Davie County is poised to become one of the first counties in the Triad to be recognized as a Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC). A few more employers signing up will achieve that goal.

“Your participation in CWRC benefits not just your company, but the entire community,” said Carolyn McManamy, president of the Davie County Chamber of Commerce which is spearheading Davie’s effort in this statewide initiative.

CWRC helps job seekers understand what skills employers like are looking for, and it helps local educators prepare students for those jobs.

“By achieving CWRC status, communities demonstrate they have a skilled workforce that is valued by their local industry and a workforce development system in place that links education and workforce development together, aligns to economic development, and matches people to jobs,” she said.

There is no cost to signup, participation does not commit a company to hiring through the program, and joining only takes a minute.

To join the team, visit http://www.workreadycommunities.org, select NC on the map and then Davie County, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the link that says “Please Join the List.”

It takes one minute.   

“We are asking businesses to commit to this program and help lead Davie County to reach its goal.  We believe pursuing the certification is the first piece of the critical workforce puzzle that must be addressed in our community,” McManamy said. “The CWRC initiative serves as a great opportunity to bring all the key workforce parties together to combat these issues including skills gaps, lack of workers and aging work force – just to name a few.”

From an economic development standpoint, employers are attracted to Certified Work Ready Communities because it demonstrates that the community has a talented labor force with skills that match employers’ needs.

“We are in competition with the world because a product can be manufactured and consumed anywhere,” said Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission. “We work hard to provide the perfect environment for businesses to succeed and a well-trained labor force is critical to that success.”

What does it take to become a Work Ready Community?

Students and employees must earn the Certified Work Ready Certificate and employers must recognize and encourage the Certified Work Ready Certificate program. Earning a Certified Work Ready Certificate requires the completion of a series of ACT Work Keys assessments that measure an individual’s foundational workplace skills such as math, reading, information and locating skills required for a majority of today’s jobs. This certification complements such traditional credentials as high school diplomas, community college degrees, and certificates of technical proficiency. Academic credentials mark the fulfillment of an individual’s classroom learning experiences. The Certified Work Ready Certificate relies on standardized assessments and confirms an individual’s competence in a specific set of workplace skills.

“Becoming a Certified Work Ready Community is a win-win for Davie County,” she said. “Please act today and join the growing list of companies, from small home-based businesses to global manufacturers that have signed up to support the Certified Work Ready Community initiative in Davie County.”