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KODE-TV Action 12 News provided local feedback to Gov. Parson's plan to expand WorkKeys testing and curriculum throughout Missouri. Dave Rockers, an administrator at Franklin Technology Center in Joplin, spoke on the benefits of scores equated to specific jobs and searching for work across a wide area.

Keeping the future in mind is a necessary function for persisting through disaster recovery. As regions continue to overcome the pandemic, there is a balance in preparing for future opportunities and obstacles at the same time. Guests and contributors for episode 25 features Chad Chancellor, Co-Founder and CEO of the Next Move Group; Mark Arenda of Site Selection Magazine; and Brenda Latanza, Preble County (OH) Development Partnership. 

The New Mexico Chamber of Commerce launched into 2021 with a business-led, strategic plan for New Mexico’s economic recovery. The plan includes support for implementing Work Ready Communities and other WorkKeys solutions statewide.

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and ACT recognize the benefits to stakeholders of “stacking” MSSC certification credentials upon ACT’s WorkKeys Assessments, specifically the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), as the “foundation” for MSSC’s Certified Technician– Supply Chain Automation (CT-SCA) for Equipment Maintenance, Certified Forklift Technician (CFT), Certified Production Technician (CPT), Certified Logistics Associate (CLA), and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) credentialing programs. The results of the current project and review of its findings can help guide the selection of students into the CT-SCA Equipment Maintenance program and encourage skill development for those applicants whose skills currently do not match the recommendations for entry.

Regional rankings here are meant to provide some insight into which states are cultivating a workforce development culture relative to others in their geography. All states are awarded points according to their national rank in five objective measures of workforce-related resources: (1) CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business 2019, Workforce and Education sub-rankings; (2) Forbes’ 2019 Best States for Business Labor Supply sub-ranking; (3) U.S. News’ 2019 Best States for Education rankings; (4) ACT National Career Readiness Certificates for 2020; and (5) the most recent workforce preparation and development component of the State Economic Development Program Expenditures Database from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The states are then ranked within their region based on their total points.

Governor Mike Parson delivered Missouri's State of the State address Wednesday afternoon. The speech included Parson's support for all 114 Missouri counties to reach their WRC certification by the end of his term. For this year, the governor expressed a goal to offer WorkKeys to 12 thousand high schoolers in the Show-Me State.  

Lafourche Parish has begun the process to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community. This process was initialized by Parish President Archie Chaisson and Assessor Wendy Thibodeaux who share a common vision to retain and attract business and industry with local talent. This certification will broaden the Parish’s ability to develop a strong workforce pipeline, desirable to employers and current and future citizens.

Richland Parish Chamber of Commerce director Scott Franklin signed the certification papers Jan. 7, completing a two-year long cooperative effort with Ouachita and Morehouse Parishes to build and improve the area’s workforce. 

“I’m most proud that this project, which will create more employment opportunities for our children, cost the taxpayers absolutely nothing,” Franklin said. “Good things sometimes simply require initiative and willingness to volunteer.”

Tammy Green, Director of Workforce and IT Innovation at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, discusses the important role that formerly incarcerated individuals can play in the workforce development ecosystem. Learn more at www.act.org/workforce