Gov. Jay Nixon today was joined by local business, education and community leaders at Mineral Area College to congratulate St. Francois County for being designated as a Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC). The CWRC designation recognizes successful efforts by community, education and business leaders, working with the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, to strengthen workforce training and development to meet the economic development needs of communities. In 2012, Missouri was selected as one of the first four states to participate in the Certified Work Ready Communities initiative by American College Testing (ACT) and now leads the nation in the number of fully certified counties. The initiative aligns workforce training programs with the economic development needs of communities; matches appropriate applicants to jobs based on skill level; and strengthens businesses by strengthening the workforce. In 2013, Jasper County, Missouri was named the first Certified Work Ready Community in the nation, and six more Missouri counties – Butler, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Ripley and St. Francois – are now fully certified. Missouri has 43 counties that are actively participating in the Certified Work Ready Community initiative. To support St. Francois County’s efforts to achieve this important certification, local employers and organizations worked together, including local school districts, educational institutions, chambers of commerce, workforce development and economic development organizations. By participating in ACT's Certified Work Ready Communities initiative, St. Francois County is: • Helping workers understand what skills are required by employers, and how to prepare themselves for success; • Helping businesses effectively communicate their workforce needs to area education and workforce training programs; • Providing educators with the tools needed to close the skills gap by establishing career pathways for students with stackable industry-recognized credentials; and • Equipping economic development organizations with an on-demand reporting tool to promote the quality of their workforce. “By bringing business and education leaders to the table, we have already identified many opportunities for ongoing workforce development and economic development initiatives,” said Doug McDermott, Farmington Regional Chamber President/CEO. “We are confident that by becoming a Certified Work Ready Community, St. Francois County is stronger, more focused and better positioned for future economic growth, and we appreciate the Governor’s leadership in this important area.” The designation comes as Missouri’s economy continues to gain jobs. Yesterday, the Department of Economic Development announced that the state’s unemployment rate dropped by three-tenths of a point to 5.6 percent in November, the lowest since May 2008. Missouri added 4,500 jobs last month, including 3,000 new manufacturing jobs. Over the past year, Missouri’s nonfarm payrolls have increased by 42,200 jobs.

• published: 19 Dec 2014
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