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DoC reentry programs prepare inmates for return to workforce February 25, 2019

Video on re-entry program in MO

Innovative re-entry programs show signs of success February 25, 2019

Employer-led ex-offender programs have already seen signs of success.

One such program began in 2015 when Jacobs piloted an idea that Missouri corrections officials had never tried before: offering a standardized employment readiness test to a group of 18 inmates who would soon be released from the Algoa Correctional Center in Jefferson City. The test was ACT’s WorkKeys assessment, which is used by thousands of companies around the world and measures skills like applied math, graphic literacy, locating information and critical thinking.

Innovative re-entry programs show signs of success February 22, 2019

Having a WorkKeys credential helps put ex-offender on a path to success and assures employers that the skills a candidate brings to a role outweigh perceived risks. When paired with the training and professional development opportunities available during incarceration, inmates can upskill and gain industry certifications that help them land good jobs when they return to the workforce

In a tight labor market, Connections to Success readies skilled, trained Missourians for jobs after prison February 22, 2019

When Nick entered the Connections to Success class at Algoa Correctional Center this fall, he was already equipped with job skills and trainingearned in Missouri Department of Corrections facilities, including a carpentry apprenticeship, auto mechanics certification and a National Career Readiness Certificate. What he didn't have was a blueprint for turning those skills into employment — while also addressing the elephant in the job interview room: his felony convictions.

Company to build massive manufacturing facility in rural Missouri town (AUDIO) October 23, 2018

The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) says a leader in the window and door industry plans to build a $65 million plant in the mid-Missouri town of Eldon. Freeburg-based Quaker Windows and Doors plans to purchase more than 100 acres in Eldon to construct a new 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility. DED says the decision will