Calhoun Community College has partnered with the Morgan County Economic Development Association (MCEDA) to help Morgan County become a recertified ACT Work Ready Community (WRC) for the next three years.
WRCs empower states, regions and counties with data, processes and tools that drive economic growth by identifying skills gaps and quantifying the skill level of their workforce. A team led by local employers, policymakers, educators and economic developers works closely to sustain the rigorous WRC model to fit local community needs.
Calhoun and MCEDA joined over 521 communities across the nation in 2019 to leverage the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate® (ACT WorkKeys NCRC) to measure the skill level of their workforce, close skills gaps and build common frameworks that support workforce development efforts.
“Calhoun Community College is extremely excited and honored to have been selected to have a hand in such a milestone for the Morgan County community,” said Dr. Jimmy Hodges, Calhoun Community College interim president. “Calhoun’s director of Testing and Assessment, Dr. Denny Smith, played a major role in leading the ACT Work Ready Communities recertification effort, along with MCEDA and the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.”
“The college appreciates all of the hard work that went into gaining this certification, which ultimately helps recruit and retain industry in Morgan County,” added Hodges.
To achieve recertification, Morgan County was required to meet targeted goals regarding the workforce availability with the emerging, current, and transitioning workforce.
“Achieving recertification with unemployment at record lows is a huge accomplishment for Morgan County,” said Jeremy Nails, CEO for MCEDA. “As one of 17 counties in the state who has achieved certification status, we feel this demonstrates Morgan County’s commitment to building a skilled and qualified workforce.”
When asked what the three-year recertification means for Morgan County, State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said, “This recertification confirms that Morgan County has a robust and qualified workforce for the diverse jobs in our community. I’m thankful for the various partners that came together to earn this credential and look forward to sharing this news with our current and future businesses.”
ACT Regional Manager of Workforce Initiatives Tony Garife congratulated Morgan County for achieving recertification status as an ACT WRC.
“This recertification … will provide the community with a tremendous economic development advantage, as well as make it stand out for its workforce development efforts,” Garife said.
Calhoun Community College is a certified ACT national test center providing testing associated with ACT WorkKeys for individuals.
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