Committee plans Certified Work Ready Community efforts

The Nevada/Vernon County Economic Development Committee has been working as a group of citizens in Vernon County who share a common goal of strengthening our community, according to a press release from the group.

Foremost at the present is an initiative to certify the county workforce.

The Certified Work Ready Community is a voluntary initiative guided by this committee and recognized by community leaders. By utilizing the National Career Readiness Certification, the community will be able to attract, retain, and develop a workforce with the education and foundational skills to succeed in the 21st Century, noted the press release.

"Now more than ever, Vernon County businesses need a strong, skilled workforce to overcome today's challenges. When an employer asks for the National Career Readiness Certificate, issued to individuals by ACT, these businesses will find the most skilled employees."

The National Career Readiness Certificate, developed by ACT, is an industry-recognized, portable, evidenced-based credential that certifies essential skills for workplace success.

The NCRC measures skills employers believe are critical to job success. Individuals can earn the NCRC by taking three WorkKeys® assessments.

The three assessments are locating information, reading for information, and applied math.

"This helps Vernon County by linking workforce development to education, and then aligns with the economic development needs of communities, regions and the state.

"Most importantly, it matches individuals to jobs based on skill levels, helping businesses to enjoy more efficient hiring practices."