News

The Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce has been awarded a grant to fund the WorkKeys program within the parish. The grant was a Delta Regional Authority State’s Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) grant for workforce training and development.

Video describes steps to sign up to take ACT WorkKeys/NCRC in Washington County, MS.  Part of Work Ready Communities.

The St. James Works Leadership Team is excited to share the progress of this endeavor and declare our appreciation to all who have partnered with us to:  LINK workforce development to education; ALIGN with the economic development needs of St. James Parish; MATCH individuals to jobs based on skill levels; and DEVELOP St. James Parish into a Work Ready Community. Attached is a copy of the Summer 2018 St. James Works Newsletter. This provides an update on the St. James Parish initiative to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community.  The Fall 2017 Newsletter is also attached for those not on the original distribution list.

Washington County community organizations are helping expand the ACT Work Ready Communities program to help more residents and businesses benefit.

The Work Ready program, which was launched by Washington County Economic Alliance in January 2016, is designed to increase the county’s attractiveness to industries, increase the number of local jobs and streamline hiring processes by testing and certifying residents’ job skills.

Up until now, WCEA was the only community organization in Washington County working to test residents and create job profiles. However, that changed Monday with the start of the school year.

Tarrinasha Jones, director of Greenville Technology Center, a part of the Greenville Public School District, said high school students from area schools will have the opportunity to participate in a two-year Manufacturing Basic Skills course that ties into the Work Ready program.

In January 2016, the Washington County Economic Alliance embarked on a mission to implement the ACT Work Ready program and get the county certified as a Work Ready Community. 

After a year of hard work, the WCEA achieved that goal, and in January 2017, Washington County became one of five certified counties in Mississippi by testing 571 residents with the ACT Work Keys exam.

Recently, Cary Karlson, executive director of the county’s economic alliance, was honored for the hard work he and his team have put in to the Work Ready program by being named an ACT Workforce Champion.

SPRINGFIELD, MO –The Missouri Job Center hosted a celebration for Taney County becoming a Certified Work Ready Community on Friday, August 10 at OTC Table Rock Campus in Hollister, Mo. Area leaders, elected officials, and Job Center staff joined together to celebrate this important accomplishment.

Taney County completed their certification in the ACT® Work Ready Program in May 2018. To obtain certification, ACT® set goals for Taney County to meet in four areas, all of which were surpassed.

“ACT® Certified Work Ready Community status is another quality tool in our toolbox to drive economic growth, specifically when it comes to workforce development,” said Jonas Arjes, Executive Director, Taney County Partnership. “We are ready to help employers recruit better prepared employees.”

Washington County Economic Alliance has partnered with the Capps Technology Center and Foundation for the Mid South to offer ACT WorkKeys / NCRC scholarships to 11th and 12th graders in Washington County.

​​To Qualify, A Student Must:
• Be between an incoming Junior
and a graduating senior
• Be a student at any school in
Washington County; and,
• Be ready to succeed.

The ACT WorkKeys/NCRC measures foundational skills required for success in the workplace and is used by numerous area employers as a hiring tool.

Washington County community organizations are helping expand the ACT Work Ready Communities program to help more residents and businesses benefit.

The Work Ready program, which was launched by Washington County Economic Alliance in January 2016, is designed to increase the county’s attractiveness to industries, increase the number of local jobs and streamline hiring processes by testing and certifying residents’ job skills.

Up until now, WCEA was the only community organization in Washington County working to test residents and create job profiles. However, that changed Monday with the start of the school year.

Kansas is joining other states in paying for high school students to take the ACT test or the WorkKeys assessment in their junior year.
One helps them get into college but the other puts them on a fast track to paying jobs.

Buchanan County has received re-certification as a Missouri Certified Work Ready Community for an additional two years.

Officials with the Buchanan County Workforce Development Task Force said they recently received word of the re-certification. Work Ready is a collaborative effort among the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Heartland Foundation, St. Joseph School District (including Hillyard Technical Center), the Northwest Missouri Workforce Investment Board and other community organizations and business partners.

To regain the status, Janice Spearman and Laura Brewer of the Missouri Career Center tested more than 2,000 current and transitioning Buchanan County workers.