RSS Feed
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Georgia's 'Work Ready' program to train, certify workers statewide Last week at the 2006 Celebrating Rural Georgia conference in Augusta, Governor Sonny Perdue announced the launch of Georgia's Work Ready program, a plan designed to improve the training and marketability of Georgia's workforce, ultimately bringing healthy economic growth to all parts of the state, including Wilkes County. The Work Ready Program is designed to help Georgia citizens get the job training they need, said Governor Sonny Perdue. "The Work Ready program will bridge the gap that exists in some communities where the local workforce lacks the right education and training for the jobs of the 21st Century economy." "We're going to pursue this Work Ready program for Wilkes County workers," said Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donna Hardy. "This will show potential employers that our work force is certified ready to work." The two-fold plan establishes the Work Ready Certificate program for individuals, providing employers with documentation that each worker meets a minimum set of skill and education standards and is ready for employment. Workers will take a validated job assessment and their skills will be matched to current and future job opportunities through an occupational profile. "Through the Work Ready program we'll have another tool to improve citizens' job prospects, help communities grow and prosper, and attract new business throughout Georgia," said George Israel, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Assessments will be done through the state's 34 technical colleges of the Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE). The colleges will also provide education and skills training to help those whose occupational profiles need upgrading. Jerry Barrow, Vice President of Economic Development for Athens Technical College, said that the school would work with Wilkes County to implement the program here. In order for potential employers to know that communities are ready, Governor Perdue and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce are also creating the Certified Work Ready Community, a voluntary initiative where a community can show they have the validated, skilled workforce needed to fill current and future jobs. Local education, economic development and workforce development professionals, using the number of individuals within the community with Work Ready Certificates as a basis, will leverage their resources to seek the Certified Work Ready Community designation. The criteria will also require communities to demonstrate a commitment to improve high school graduation rates. "We believe the Georgia Work Ready Certificate is an innovative way to help individuals highlight their skills and abilities, as well as identify skill gaps and the training necessary to fill those gaps," said Mike Garrett, president and CEO of Georgia Power. In addition to Georgia Power, several companies were present today at the Celebrating Rural Georgia Conference to illustrate their support and recognition of the Work Ready initiative. Other companies that have already indicated support for the initiative include Callaway Gardens, IBM, Milsco Manufacturing Company and UPS. "We want every company thinking about relocating to Georgia or expanding their business to be able to easily identify communities that have a workforce trained and ready to work. Training Georgia's workforce gives more communities the opportunity to attract new jobs needed for economic vitality across the state," said Governor Perdue.
More information is available at the Georgia Work Ready website located at www.gaworkready.org .
|
for larger version       |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
