Through the support of the Southside Virginia Education Center Board of Directors, Greensville County and the City of Emporia have initiated a partnership with Iowa-based nonprofit ACT to become one of the first Certified Work Force Ready Communities in Virginia. Through a region-specific version of the ACT Work Ready Communities program, the certification will help the community create the infrastructure and policies that support local workforce development and training systems for existing and future clients.
Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Maurice Jones attended the kickoff vowing support from the
Commonwealth to the communities for their efforts.
“The most important thing we can do for economic development is to invest in our talent and prepare them for the jobs of the 21st Century,”
said Secretary Jones. “I want to commend Greensville/Emporia for prioritizing this, and I look forward to helping them market their achievements to businesses looking to locate or expand in Virginia.”
“Having a skilled and trained workforce is vital to attract business and industry to our area,” Margaret Lee, member of the County Board of Supervisors said. “The ACT Work Ready Communities initiative is a logical partner with the SVEC Board and Southside Virginia Community College to certify the workforce and bring economic opportunities to the region.” This prosperous region boats development of Virginia’s next major employment center, the Mid Atlantic Advanced Manufacturing Center, also known as MAMaC.
At the core of the ACT Work Ready Communities initiative is the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate™ (ACT NCRC®). This nationally recognized and portable credential is based on three essential workplace skill categories: applied math, reading for information, and locating information. Since January 2006, more than 2.75 million Americans have earned an ACT NCRC. Southside Virginia Community College just awarded its 20,000th creditial.
There are three categories of employees on which the certification focuses. Emerging employees are high school and college or technical training graduates that are entering the workforce for the first time. Transitioning workforce are unemployed, underemployed and recent active duty military that are seeking employment. Current employees are already holding a position in the community.
Taking the first step in obtaining the certification, in Spring 2015, through partnership with Southside Virginia Community College, Greensville County schools assessed a total of 257 Juniors and Seniors. The pass rate was an astounding 89% (228) of students who earned a NCRC. The percent breakdown of NCRCs earned were approximately 29% (66) Bronze, 59% (136) Silver, 11% (24) Gold and 1% (2) Platinum. The credential earned will compliment a college application as well as job resume.
The ACT NCRC not only assists individuals, it also helps assure employers that the people they hire and promote have the skills necessary to succeed. Counties that have sustainable, ongoing certification efforts are attractive to employers in terms of economic development. Once obtained the County and City will market the certification to attract and retain jobs through new business investment and expansion.
The Commonwealth Administration as well as the Virginia Community College has vowed their support of the ACT Work Ready Community Certification program. Southside Virginia Community College is a vital partner as well. However, it is the local citizens that will determine the success of this program. The participation of the chamber of commerce, local businesses and industries, employees, students, and unemployed residents working toward community certification is what will help attract new jobs and investment to the community as well as continue the success of existing businesses and industry.
So how can the community help in our next steps to certification? There are three plans of action that will take place over the next 24 months.
The NCRC will continue to be administered to Juniors and Seniors at the Greensville County High School giving the students a chance to earn a credential that will complement their diploma and resume. Citizens can help educate parents and students on the importance of completing the test and earning a credential.
Local Business and industry should register their support of the NCRC on the ACT website. This will be a simple process for employers. Economic Developers from the City and County will meet with local managers and owners to explain the program and garner support from as many employers as possible. If you are interested in showing your business’s support please contact Natalie Slate at the County or Jan Harrell at the City office.
Continued education of the public regarding the importance of the NCRC and how it can help the unemployed become employed will be vital to obtaining the certification. Working with the Workforce Investment board and Social Services representatives will reach out to those individuals trying to find employment and use the NCRC to booster those efforts. Business and Industry can help this effort by recognizing the importance of the NCRC and giving preference to applicants that have obtained the credential benefiting both the new hire and the company.
If you are an individual interested in receiving a NCRC or you are a business manager and wish to test your employees please contact Debra Smiley with Southside Virginia Community College. She will be happy to help you through the process.
“The nationwide momentum we’ve already established for the ACT Work Ready Community initiative will be strengthened by this partnership,” said Debra Lyons, ACT vice president for community and economic development. “We share the same purpose—supporting job creation and economic development—so this is a logical fit. We were pleased to welcome the Greensville County and the City of Emporia to our program.”