Tamika Jenkins of the Mississippi County Economic Development Area was the featured speaker at the bi-monthly Mississippi County Mayor's lunch Tuesday, held at the Gosnell Community Center.
Jenkins informed the mayors of the need for the county to become "Work Ready certified." She said that when site consultants approach them about finding locations for new industries or businesses, they ask about infrastructure, the work force and workforce training partnerships.
"Being Work Ready speaks volumes about leadership and being proactive to addressing [these] workforce issues," Jenkins said.
Jenkins added that being Work Ready happens when "representatives from local government, economic development, workforce development, community college, K-12 system and businesses are working in harmony to identify skill gaps and quantify the skill level of their workforce."
That collaboration allows each involved to help determine what resources can be utilized to create a better workforce. It also helps educators build "career pathways" that align with the needs of businesses and industries in the area. For that reason, the East Arkansas Planning and Development District has chosen Mississippi County to be one of the first five pilot counties in Arkansas (along with Crittenden, Randolph, Lee and Poinsett).
The program also allows existing employers to have their new hire candidates tested through workforce or at ANC to determine career readiness. Since the cost of testing is paid for by the state, it is a free service for both employers and job seekers. Once tested, a score is given (from a maximum score of eight) on three tests that measure "applied mathematics," "locating information" and "reading information." The ACT Work Keys assessment has four levels of certification based on score: platinum, gold, silver and bronze. The platinum level, for example, indicates that the potential employee can work 99 percent of all jobs and made a minimum of a six on all three tests. Additionally, the certification is nationally recognized. Therefore if the tested person moves to a state like South Carolina, their certification would follow them with their job searches.
Jenkins said that certification benefits both businesses and job seekers because it is a good indicator of success in any particular job. For example the results, if weak in applied math, may indicate which types of job they would do well with or struggle with, helping both firms and job seekers focus their searches more productively.
Mississippi County has been given two years (until December 2017) to meet the qualifications of being "Work Ready." It is a two-point evaluation: "achieving workforce goal numbers" with emerging, current and transitioning workers as well as "achieving employer goal numbers."
In order to "achieve employer goal numbers" the county needs companies to register and sign a letter of support for the program. Companies with over five employees count as one point in the formula and those under five points count as one fourth of a point. The county needs 61 points.
Those wishing to help the county achieve their goal of becoming Work Ready Certified or to obtain more information may contact Ms. Jenkins, Gene Bennett (Dean of Economic Development at the ANC Solutions Group) or visit http://workreadycommunities.org.
Additionally during the meeting Blytheville Mayor James Sanders, Gosnell Mayor Don Marshall, Dell Mayor Danny Moody, Birdsong Mayor Curtis Johnson, Luxora Mayor Jasper Jackson, Joiner Mayor Sissie Winford-Ross, Leachville Mayor Ralph Wells, Etowah Mayor Charles "Bo" McCollum, Dyess Mayor Ken Gilmore and Osceola Mayor Dickie Kennemore discussed various projects their cities are working on. These projects ranged from extensive city cleanup efforts and grant writing to drainage issues, new infrastructure needs, new businesses and construction successes, sewer projects, and a study for a new airport.
thenry@blythevillecourier.com