RUSH COUNTY FIRST IN INDIANA TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS A WORK READY COMMUNITY!
The Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation announced today that Rush County is now certified as an ACT™ Work Ready Community (CWRC). The process of working toward this goal began last April when they publicized participation in the program.
The CWRC is an initiative that showcases the highly skilled workforce that businesses require in a competitive economy. The foundation of a community’s certification is based on individuals at the county level across the current, transitioning and emerging workforce earning a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) and employers recognizing the NCRC. The NCRC is a portable, industry-recognized credential that clearly identifies an individual’s WorkKeys® skills in reading for information, applied math and locating information. These workplace skills are highly important to the majority of jobs in the workplace.
“Being a certified work ready community helps make our county more competitive when it comes to attracting new business”, said John McCane, Executive Director of the ECDC. “Rush County is leading our state to close the skills gap and provide skilled workers to our employers. Focusing on these initiatives helps Rush County grow and prosper. We are the first county in Indiana to achieve this designation”.
“Meeting the goals was a combined effort of many entities”, said Carolyn Bunzendahl, Client Services Manager of the ECDC. She cited the leadership of individuals on the K To Success Education committee, encouragement of the ECDC Board of Directors, and hard work of the WorkOne agency, especially Business Services Representative Leslie Shaul, as being paramount in reaching those goals. “We want to congratulate those 281 individuals who have earned a National Career Readiness Certificate, and over 19 employers who have signed up as being in support of the program. They are the ones who are most important to this initiative”. Now that the county is certified, maintenance goals will be set to ensure an ongoing supply of skilled employees.
For more information about this program, go to http://www.workreadycommunities.org/IN/139,; www.rushecdc.org or call the ECDC at 938-3232.