Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development has announced that they have received confirmation that Geary County has been selected as one of the few counties in Kansas to participate in the ACT Community Work Ready Certification initiative.
The initiative is a core element in the effort to build a national system for work readiness. The basis for the initiative are the ACT National Career Readiness Certificates that focus on certifying three essential skills–applied math, reading for information, and locating information. The ACT NCRC credential can help demonstrate to empoloyers the skill level and work readiness among new workers, transitioning workers, and current employees.
The Certificates — and the skills they verify — show employers that an individual possesses foundational skills needed to succeed. The testing process also helps emerging workers identify their strengths and understand what training might be necessary to pursue their life goals. Greg Miller, Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director said, “Work ready certification gives us more credibility when talking to the selectors and potential employers, and marketing our community nationally. It will allow us to convey that we have a skilled workforce, an asset that companies consider in their location and expansion decisions.”
Larry Hicks Geary County Commissioner, Mary Kay Stauffer usd 475 Executive Director of Innovation in Schools & Community, Jo Brunner Workforce Services Supervisor Kansas Works, Cindy Carlyon AP / AR / HR Junction City Wire Harness, Jason York Director of Business & Industry Programs Cloud County Community College, Greg Miller Economic Development Director and Susan Jagerson Economic Development Specialist, will lead the two-year initiative.
The first part of the certification process is a twelve-month performance-driven Academy to assist communities in initiating and deploying their work readiness efforts. Team members are required to attend four WRC work sessiions during that period. After completing the Academy and developing the ACT WRC framework team leaders implement the program and use established performance metrics based on individuals earning and employers recognizing the ACT NCRC to build a sustainable, county based work ready program.