Washington County Now Certified as a Work Ready Community
Jan 6, 2017
Washington County Certified as ACT Work Ready Community
Greenville, MS – The Washington County Economic Alliance (WCEA) is pleased to announce that Washington County is now a certified ACT Work Ready Community (WRC). The certification will support Washington County in economic development, industry recruitment, and bolster existing industry by linking workforce development to education and employers’ needs. The WCEA began working towards the certification in January 2016.
“We are so pleased to be the first county in the Mississippi Delta and third in the State of Mississippi to reach ACT Certified Work Ready Status”, stated Cary Karlson, Executive Director of the Washington County Economic Alliance. “I want to thank the Work Ready Committee, Mitzi Woods of South Delta Planning and Development District, Christie Sledge of the Mississippi Development Authority, Ryan Ashley of USG Interiors, Jesse Amos and Carl McGee of the Washington County Board of Supervisors, and Mayor Errick Simmons of Greenville for their support and guidance”. Additionally, I wish to thank Chris Masingill of the Delta Regional Authority and Frank Howell of Delta Council for their support of this initiative.
Washington County has attained a total of 974 National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) with 534 reaching a Silver Level, which is the preferred NCRC level for manufacturing jobs. At 54.8%, Washington County is barely trailing the National Average for Silver Level at 55.8. This reinforces that Washington County has a strong workforce.
The foundation of a community's certification is based on individuals at the county level across the current, transitioning and emerging workforce earning a NCRC and employers recognizing the NCRC. ACT WRC empowers states, regions and counties with data, process and tools that drive economic growth. Participants are leveraging the NCRC to measure and close the skills gap — and building common frameworks that link, align and match their workforce development efforts. For more information, visit http://workreadycommunities.org/.
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