Wilkes gets $35k grant to improve workforce
By KIP BURKE news editor

Wilkes County has been awarded a $35,000 state grant to assist in accelerating earning Certified Work Ready Community status, a designation showing the county has the talented workforce that business demands and the educational infrastructure to drive economic growth and prosperity.

To be designated a Certified Work Ready Community, counties must demonstrate a commitment to improving public high school graduation rates, show a specified percentage of graduates are entering the workforce, and drive current workers and the unemployed to obtain a Work Ready Certificate.

"Earning Certified Work Ready Community status will ensure our citizens have the talent necessary to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies new jobs will require tomorrow," said Donna Hardy, Executive Director of the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. "We will help transform our economy and give our community a competitive advantage in attracting new business and jobs."

The county's efforts are being lead by a team of Chamber, workforce board, economic development, government, and education partners including: Wilkes County, City of Washington, the Washington-Wilkes Payroll Development Authority, the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, Wilkes Co. Board of Education, Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School, Washington-Wilkes Middle School, Athens Technical College, Wills Memorial Hospital, Wilkes Career Opportunity Center, Wilkes County Community Partnership (Family Connections & Communities in Schools), Wilkes County Department of Family and Community Services, Pliant Corporation, Global Employment Solutions, and state agencies Department of Community Affairs, Department of Economic Development and the Department of Labor.

Governor Sonny Perdue has awarded 24 counties grants to assist in the Certified Work Ready Communities process. These counties will serve as models for the initiative, showcasing successes and best practices for other communities to follow. Each county has pledged to complete the process within 18 months as a part of the eligibility requirements.

"These accelerated counties are leading the way to creating a competitive advantage for our state," said Governor Perdue. "By jumpstarting the process, they can drive momentum and participation in the Work Ready initiative throughout the state."

In addition to the 24 accelerated counties, 49 other counties have made a commitment to becoming Certified Work Ready Communities and will have three years to reach the goals necessary to earn the designation.

"Through the Work Ready Community certification, these counties will collectively help 1,600 Georgia youth successfully earn a high school diploma and more than 94,000 Georgians earn a Work Ready Certificate,"said Governor Perdue.

Georgia's Work Ready initiative is comprised of a skills assessment and certificationfor job seekers and a job profilingsystem for businesses. By identifying both the needs of business and the available skills of Georgia's workforce, the state can more effectively generate the right talent for the right jobs.

For more information on the Work Ready initiative, visit the Web site at www.gaworkready.org.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
The Office Cat	2
Neighborhood vandalism is out of control	1
The Office Cat	1
Drug problem growing; little is being done	1
The Office Cat	1
Family escapes death in semi hit-and-run	1
Feed a family of four for $10 a week	1