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In an effort to support Middle Tennessee’s manufacturing industry, Nashville State Community College, Workforce Essentials and the Houston County Sheriff’s Department are providing training programs for Houston County Jail inmates. The two-week training sessions include entry-level advanced manufacturing machine adjustment fundamentals, communication intelligence exercises, National Career Readiness Certificate/WorkKeys assessment-based credentials and OSHA 10 certification, a voluntary program that promotes workplace safety and health.

“CSM will not only offer the WorkKeys^® curriculum that has been designated by our business champions as a necessity, we will now also serve as a recognized ACT^® WorkKeys^® NCRC^® testing site,” explained CSM Continuing Education and Workforce Development Associate Vice President Ellen Flowers-Fields. “Our work in bringing this designation to our region is one more example of how CSM’s serves as an economic engine in Southern Maryland and demonstrated our commitment to improve our students’ skills and wages.”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson keynoted the opening of the 2021 ACT State Organizations virtual conference.  Gov. Parson shared Missouri's success with Work Ready Communities, preparing the workforce with WorkKeys, and economic recovery from disasters and pandemics alike.

“This is an important part of our overall approach to building a quality workforce here in Franklin County. Workforce development is critical to the success of our business and industry.” – Paul Bean, Executive Director, FCDC.

Hempstead County Judge, Jerry Crain said our community is glad to participate in this proactive process to better our labor force and help local employers and their employees.

"Miller County is excited to partner with the Texarkana USA Regional Chamber of Commerce to launch ACT Work Ready Communities initiatives that use the ... ACT WorkKeys NCRC [National Career Readiness Certificate] as the basis for industry-driven efforts that link education, workforce and economic development," Miller County Judge Cathy Harrison said.

Whether you prefer to call it the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, there is no denying that industry is getting smarter. Franklin County represents one of the top markets in the country for industrial and business development thanks to easy access to Interstate 35, Interstate 70, Logistics Park Kansas City and the Kansas City International Airport, as well as inclusion in the Foreign Trade Zone.

The Ally Award for 2021 was presented to the Richard S. Shineman Foundation in recognition and appreciation of the vision, commitment and leadership demonstrated to support countless not for profit initiatives to improve quality of life and economic vitality across Oswego County; for providing 291 grants totaling over $9.4 million to 180 organizations and programs, including Work Ready Communities.

Short term and stackable in Ohio is the theme of recent research from the Rand corporation. The report cites Ohio's success in stackable short-term credentials. Open Campus Media showcased best practices Lorain Community College.

“It is important to develop and maintain a skilled workforce here in Prince Edward County.
Workforce skills are a key component of economic development in today’s economy and
becoming an ACT Work Ready Community will support workforce development,” stated Prince
Edward County Board of Supervisors Chairman J. David Emert.