Creativity that Comes with a Tail!

Centralina Workforce Development Board Co-sponsors Disney Institute Team Creativity Training

South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) in Monroe hosted guests from all over the Centralina region for the Disney Institute Team Creativity workshop on March 28 in the Conference Center on the Old Charlotte Highway Campus. The Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) was the primary co-sponsor of the Disney Institute training.

The Disney Institute's one-day program, featuring its renowned brand of creative development, showed the guests different ways to be creative and challenged them to think both inside the box, as well as outside the box. Attendees learned about expression behaviors and expression insights. Guests worked in teams and learned how to implement all the creative suggestions by working together on fun and innovative projects. Those in attendance were professionals from all fields ranging from workforce development, to medical, to education, professional services, retail, and more.

Members of the local JobLink Career Center management teams in the Centralina region attended the training, as well as many of the Centralina Workforce Development Board members and partners.

David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, stated, "Our Board is the competitive force in the global economy. In order for us to fulfill this vision it is vitally important for all workforce partners to learn how to creatively handle new challenges. The Disney Institute training was perfect for moving people out of their comfort zone and to develop bold new strategies for our future workforce and economic development needs".

The Centralina Workforce Development Board promotes continuing training and continuous improvement for all businesses in the region. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Branding – Not Just for Cows Anymore!

Rebranding Training for Centralina JobLink Career Centers

The Centralina Workforce Development Board recently hosted a Rebranding Training event for the JobLink Career Centers in the Centralina region. The goal of the training was to allow the JobLink Career Center staff and partners to fully understand the JobLink concept and ensure that each person was a JobLink “brand ambassador”.

Celina Shands Gradijan from Full Capacity Marketing facilitated the training sessions at the Copperfield Room at Cabarrus Family Medicine in Concord on April 12 and April 13. The training was held over two days so that all staff members who work at the local JobLink Career Centers could attend.

Celina lead the attendees through two sessions, one focused on “Living Your Brand” which incorporated new office practices (mission, vision, telephone and elevator speeches) for the JobLink Career Centers and explained the close relationship between the Centralina WDB and the centers. The second session focused on “Business Outreach” and discussed methods for working with businesses in the region to ensure that they are aware of the JobLink Career Centers and using the services offered at the centers. Center staff also reviewed the means to have a coordinated effort among all the centers with business outreach to “make the most impact in our region”.

Over 150 JobLink partner employees and many of their supervisors attended the training. Everyone left the training with the desire to improve at least one thing at their centers. Many attendees enjoyed learning about what other JobLink Career Centers were doing in the region, as well as getting a chance to learn more about the Centralina Workforce Development Board.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the JobLink Career Centers are undergoing a rebranding and more information will be revealed in the upcoming months! Please continue to look for more stories on this exciting development in the upcoming issues of the E-Newsletter. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board or local JobLink Career Centers, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Look for a Job in All the Right Places

National Association of State Workforce Agencies Selects New Site to List Over 5 Million Jobs

Job Central National Labor Exchange (www.jobcentral.com) has been selected by The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) (www.naswa.org) to provide job seekers, employers, and states a cost-effective transition from America's Job Bank (AJB) when AJB is discontinued June 30, 2007, as previously announced by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Job Central will allow job seekers to search over five million (5,000,000) jobs from corporate websites, newspapers, trade associations, and other Internet sources in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, major metropolitan areas, and all U.S. cities and postal zip code areas. It will be available free-of-charge to job seekers. Job postings, resume searching capabilities, and other services will be available to all employers in all industries. The service will be free to employers through participating state workforce agencies.

For more information, click here.

Growing at the Speed of Business!

A Great Week for Business News in Union County!

French aerospace company Turbomeca Manufacturing, a subsidiary of SAFRAN Group USA, is settling within Monroe, which is just the latest victory for city and county officials when it comes to recruiting movers and shakers in the aviation industry.

The company, an international leader in the development of helicopter engines and aviation equipment, is planning a $46 million investment on a 120,00-square-foot plant in Monroe’s Corporate Center on Airport Road. The plant is expected to open in February with about 180 employees initially, the majority in production jobs with an average pay of $17 per hour.

The news comes just days after ATI Allvac, a specialty metal and alloy supplier for the aero-space industry, announced that it was planning a $210 million expansion for its Monroe plant, the largest expansion in city history.

“Companies like Turbomeca and SAFRAN represent the future of North Carolina,” said Jim Fain, NC Department of Commerce Secretary, adding the company will join local manufacturers Goodrich Corporation, Cyril Bath Company and ATI Allvac in making Monroe and Union County an aerospace hub.

The company is receiving about $6.4 million in grants and incentives from city, county and state coffers over the next 12 years. About $3 million of that money will come from the N.C. Economic Investment Committee and the Governor’s One North Carolina Fund.

The City of Monroe has approved an economic incentive for a conveyance of 40.91 acres in the corporate center, valued at about $900,020, and $200,000 to pay for city permits and fees. Monroe Economic Development Director Chris Platé said the plant should generate at least $1.3 million in city tax revenues over the next 10 years.

In addition, the city will spend about $1.5 million installing a service road and establishing sewer infrastructure for the plant located off of Airport Road at Sanford Lane. Platé said the road will open up about 150 acres for development in that area, 40 of which are set aside for the construction of the Turbomeca plant.

Meanwhile, county officials have approved almost $863,000 in grants over the next seven years that were recommended by Union County Partnership for Progress. The company is expected to bring in about $1.3 million in tax revenues for the county during that same period.

Turbomeca CEO Emeric d’Arcimore said the company was looking to expand its manufacturing in the United States and Monroe was most suitable because of a large base of qualified workers, city and county incentives and the enthusiasm of local leaders.

“It is a major step forward in the Americanization of our product,” d’Arcimore said. U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C., hailed the announcement as an economic victory and a national security touchstone for city, county and national leaders. “National security comes first and this is a huge move in national security,” he said.

Platé said Turbomeca’s move to Monroe should identify the city as a cornerstone in aerospace industry. “This is a monumental day,” he said. “This is going to change the landscape of Monroe.”

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to partner with Monroe Economic Development, the Union County Partnership for Progress, and the City of Monroe to welcome another great business to the region. It’s the great workforce in this region that continues to bring productive companies to the area. A qualified workforce is job one for the Centralina Workforce Development Board. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org.

Land of Opportunity in Lincoln County

Three Business in Lincoln County could add 700 Jobs

A trio of business deals, aided by more than $1.1 million in government incentives, could bring 700 jobs to Lincoln County in the next two years.

County commissioners approved the incentive grants, after learning of the potential $50 million in investment through the three projects. Cash would go to companies over five years, provided they meet the county's investment and job creation requirements.

Furniture maker RSI, the county's largest industrial employer, plans to expand in the Lincoln County Industrial Park. The average pay for new jobs would be $9 an hour.

GE Security plans to occupy a new shell building in the park, while SecureCoat International would open an operation in another building not yet built. The average pay for those new jobs would be $12 an hour.

None of the deals are final, said Barry Matherly, executive director of the Lincoln Economic Development Association. Matherly asked commissioners to approve the incentives Monday.

Although the three companies have guaranteed only 450 jobs total, Matherly said their plans call for 700. RSI would add the most, 400, after expanding its 400,000-square-foot plant to 700,000 square feet.

The Keith Corp., which owns the RSI building, would expand the plant, Matherly said. The Keith Corp. also owns the building that would house GE Security, he said, and would build the SecureCoat building.

Other than their location in the roughly 550-acre industrial park, the three projects aren't connected, Matherly said.

"They just happened to come to this point," he said, adding that April and May usually are a busy time for industrial announcements. "A lot of projects kind of come to a decision point now."

The 700 new jobs would bring the total jobs in the park to about 2,500 -- up from only 35 in 2000. Other park tenants that have expanded in recent months include Crate & Barrel and Cataler North America.

Despite the surge in opportunities, Matherly said he isn't worried about running out of candidates for new jobs.

"The majority of my labor force leaves the county every day for a job," he said. "That is a lot of people that we would like to work closer to home."

For more information on the Lincoln County Economic Development Association, please contact Barry Matherly at (704) 732-1511 or visit www.lincolneda.org. Look for more articles on this exciting development in the upcoming issues of the Centralina Workforce Development Board E-Newsletter or visit www.centralinaworks.com.

Employer of Choice is in the Centralina Region

Carolinas Medical Center – Union Named Employer of Choice

Carolinas Medical Center-Union President and CEO John Roberts received the award for the hospital as a national “Employer of Choice”. The hospital received the award from Greensboro-based Employer of Choice, Inc., a group of business experts that assesses company’s practices in employee training and retention. Officials at CMC-Union said they are the first hospital in the state to win the award, which only 5 percent of hospitals nationwide are qualified to receive.

“This isn’t an easy award to get,” Employer of choice President Joyce Gioia said. “Many apply; very few actually earn that designation.”

The hospital’s fair treatment of employees and attention to advancing key workers up the corporate stepladder has made it an inviting center for county labor.

“I’ve been in a lot of hospitals and I’ve seen a lot of facilities,” Gioia said. “I am impressed. There’s a spirit of camaraderie here like you’re all on the same team.”

Where did CMC-Union find all this professional training that helped them achieve this great accomplishment? CMC-Union received training through the Incumbent Worker Program from the Centralina Workforce Development Board. CMC-Union recently completed certification training for the Critical Care Registered Nurses through Incumbent Worker funding that was initially approved in November 2005. The skills learned with the Incumbent Workforce grant have allowed the Critical Care Unit to improve the overall people and technical skills in the unit.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to have the Employer of Choice in the region. The Board is ecstatic that the training funds provided help lead to such a prestigious award. A well prepared workforce for an ever changing economy and community is a vital part of the mission of the Centralina Workforce Development Board. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Businesses Find More Room for Growth in South Iredell

Mooresville is Getting Another Business Park

Commercial development is surging past Interstate 77 Exit 33 in Mooresville to Exit 36, where a 100-acre business park and retail center are in the works. Lakefield Corporate Center, on Oates Road off N.C. 150 near I-77, will include office buildings, corporate headquarters sites, shops and restaurants.

Charlotte's Beacon Partners is teaming on the project with Mooresville businessmen Steve McGlothlin and Charlie Caputo. Beacon, which will focus on the business park, is planning for five office and office-warehouse flex buildings in an estimated $9 million first phase. McGlothlin and Caputo, who are spearheading the retail, are planning 20,000 square feet of stores and restaurants valued at $9 million in the Shoppes at Lakefield.

As part of project, adjacent to Talbert Pointe Business Park, the developers plan a new entry road with a traffic light off N.C. 150.

McGlothlin started working on the 5.5-acre retail development about three years ago, but as he evaluated the market and talked to adjoining property owners his vision grew larger. With the help of brokers Bob Race and Parker Black of Newport Properties-Commercial, he was able to assemble 100 acres.

McGlothlin called it one of the last commercial/flex space opportunities near Mooresville, Lowe's Cos.' headquarters and other blossoming development.

Beacon's Mike Harrell, who is in charge of developing the business park, expects the initial office and retail portions to be completed by the end of the year.

The developers say the Lowe's headquarters at Exit 33, an abundance of NASCAR shops in the area and strong Lake Norman-oriented residential growth are generating demand.
Harrell said the park's initial buildings are designed to appeal to businesses seeking to occupy their own single-tenant facilities on a master-planned, landscaped campus.
The five single-story structures range from 14,000 to 32,000 square feet. They're designed primarily for office tenants, Harrell said, but they can accommodate warehouse users.

A second business park phase is to include 5- to 50-acre sites for two-story concrete-and-glass buildings that could be used as showrooms or warehouses. Ultimately, the park is expected to grow to more than 1 million square feet of office, office-warehouse and retail space.

McGlothlin said he's working on a second, $12-million to $15-million commercial phase to include a hotel and restaurant on the I-77 side of the park.

For information about economic development efforts in Mooresville/South Iredell, please contact Melanie O’Connell-Underwood at the Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corporation at (704) 664-6922 . Look for more articles on this new business park in the upcoming issues of the Centralina Workforce Development Board E-Newsletter or visit www.centralinaworks.com.



Last Chance for Incumbent Worker Training Funds!

Final Round is Quickly Coming to a Close

Want a great way to help upgrade the skills of your current workforce and prepare for the future? The Centralina Workforce Development Board can help. The Board is currently accepting applications from local businesses for Incumbent Workforce Development training. The Incumbent Workforce Development training is designed to upgrade employees' skills and increase companies' competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The final round for submission of Incumbent Worker funding applications for this fiscal year is currently open to local employers and runs through May 24, 2007. The maximum amount of funds available per business is $37,500. Since the grants are competitive, local businesses are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

A total of $3,000,000 in Workforce Investment Act funds has been designated by the Governor's Commission on Workforce Development to fund the Incumbent Worker training in North Carolina this fiscal year.
The Centralina WDB looks forward to working with new local businesses to submit applications, as well as, past companies who want to resubmit from previous periods. For more information and to review the Incumbent Worker guidelines and application, please visit the Centralina WDB Website or contact Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator at (704) 348-2710.

Employers interested in receiving funding for upgrading the skills of their current workforce are urged to contact Vail as soon as possible prior to submitting your application to the Board. Vail is available to assist your company in completing the application and getting it to the Board for review prior to Thursday May 24, 2007.

APRIL's Business Survey Prize Winner is…

Each month, the Centralina Workforce Development Board holds a drawing from Business Surveys that area businesses have completed and posted on our website.

Centralina is pleased to announce that the winner of this month’s drawing is Square D in Rowan County. Patti Zenker of Square D completed and submitted the survey. Patti is also co-chair of the Rowan Biz-Ed Connect committee. We thank Patti for helping us with our continuous improvement feedback process! For more information about Square D please visit www.squared.com.

If you haven't completed the survey, you can do so now by logging onto our website at http://www.centralinaworks.com/survey. It only takes a couple of minutes and by completing the survey, it will guarantee your entry into our next drawing.

For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Employer Survey and the business services available through the Board and our local JobLink Career Centers, please contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 or by email at vcarter@centralina.org.

There's a JobLink Career Center Near You

Anson County JobLink Career Center

Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center

Iredell County JobLink Career Centers

Lincoln County JobLink Career Center

Rowan County JobLink Career Center

Stanly County JobLink Career Center

Union County JobLink Career Center


 

 

Employment Statistics
 Updated Monthly on this E-Newsletter

March 2007
(Source: NC Employment Security Commission)
County
Unemployment Rate
Persons Employed
Anson
7.0%
10,498
Cabarrus
3.9%
79,018
Iredell
4.1%
74,360
Lincoln
4.5%
37,018
Rowan
4.6%
67,042
Stanly
4.8%
29,199
Union
3.7%
84,422

For more information on employment, click here

A Driving Force in the Region for the Workforce

Community Colleges Team up to Provide Truck Driver Training

Mitchell Community College and Caldwell Community College are now offering truck driving training at their locations.

Truck driver training attracts many non-traditional students from across the region, and from across many different backgrounds. Some come to the training looking for a better job, some come looking for a stable job, and others come to it because the open road calls them.

According to instructor Ray Moss, an active driver himself, the need for new drivers is growing at a rate of 20,000 jobs per year.

Truck driver training at Mitchell is an eight-week course that meets from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week. A thorough knowledge of the industry is developed through information-thick classroom instruction, training course skill development and real driving sessions around the region.

“We have a lot of recruiters locally and nationally,” says Rudy Fox, the director of truck driver training at Caldwell Community College. “All of them [the students] have job offers before they leave.”

“It’s one of the few classes that you can go to school for eight weeks and come out making $50,000 a year without a two or four-year degree,” says Joe Ford, a student in the class.

The Truck Driver training program is an approved training program to receive Workforce Investment Act funds in the Centralina region. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to partner with Mitchell Community College and Caldwell Community College to help retrain and prepare the workforce. For the Centralina Workforce Development Board a prepared and well trained workforce is job one. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please visit the website at www.centralinaworks.com or contact David Hollars at 704-348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Career Connection in Iredell County

Goodwill Industries Offers Free Career Services in Statesville

Great news Statesville! Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina recently opened a Career Connections Center at 124 Fourth Crescent Place in Statesville. The center offers free services to help job seekers secure employment including skills assessments, career counseling, resume and cover letter writing, and assistance with applications. The Center also offers employment resources, such as computers with high-speed internet access and interview simulators.

“Our goal is to provide a one-stop resource for unemployed and underemployed people in the Iredell County,” said Sherry Carpenter, Goodwill vice president of Workforce Development Services. “We hope people will use the center as their home base while job searching.”

To fund its workforce development programs, Goodwill sells donated items in its retail stores. Goodwill currently operates three Iredell County stores in Statesville, Mooresville and Troutman that sell clothing, furniture, shoes, toys and housewares.

The Iredell County Career Connections Center will be open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition to the Statesville center, Goodwill has Career Connections Centers in Asheville, Lexington, Salisbury, and Winston-Salem. For more information please call (704) 873-5005 or visit their website at www.goodwillnwnc.org.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the JobLink Career Centers are proud to partner with Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina to reach more of the workforce and help prepare them for the future. A well prepared workforce is job one for the Centralina Workforce Development Board. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Attention All Workforce Development Professionals!

The Month of May is Workforce Development Professional Month

The North Carolina Employment and Training Association and the North Carolina Commission on Workforce Development has declared the month of May Workforce Development Professional Month.

Workforce development professionals include case managers, program directors, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Community College instructors. They are Workforce Development Board Members, Human Resource Specialist, Labor Marker Analysts and Youth Program Operators. They are frontline staff and executives, elected officials and office support staff. They are trainers and job developers and career development facilitators and many more!

The North Carolina Employment and Training Association will be taking nominations for outstanding workforce development professional. They are looking for professionals who exemplify the diverse talents that drive the workforce development system in North Carolina. If you would like to nominate someone to be recognized please email a brief description (100 words or less) and a photo to ekurzer@nccommerce.com or kjohnson@nccommerce.com.

During the whole month of May all workforce development professionals are encouraged to hold activities that are related to workforce development and to get out to the community the message that May is Workforce Development Professionals month. Some activities could be to host a recognition lunch with professional development speakers for businesses and workforce professionals, or provide refreshments at the local JobLink Career Center and invite new businesses and job seekers to the Center.

Whatever you decide to do to celebrate May as Workforce Development Professional month, please let the Centralina Workforce Development Board know so we can recognize you for your innovative ideas and your community outreach.

Please email your activities and pictures to Emily Barnes at ebarnes@centralina.org and be sure to see check back with our E-Newsletter to see your activity shared with over 2,000 professionals nation and statewide!

For more information on Workforce Development Professional Month please contact Emily Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or by email at ebarnes@centralina.org.


Test Your Knowledge!

Take our Short Quiz to See How Much You know About Basic Skills and Literacy in North Carolina

Try to answer the following questions about basic skills and literacy in North Carolina. Look for the answers in next month’s E-Newsletter!

1.) On the average, adults with a high school diploma or GED typically earn how much more per year than adults who did not finish high school?
a. $3,200
b. $4,600
c. $7,400

2.) On the average, how many students typically enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) programs to improve their communication skills and/or prepare for citizenship?
a. 1,000-5,000
b. 15,000-20,000
c. 25,000-30,000

3.) On the average, how many North Carolinians are annually awarded GEDs or Adult High School diplomas through the North Carolina Community College System?
a. 1,000-9,000
b. 10,000-15,000
c. 16,000-20,000

4.) Most adult students who take Basic Skills classes are able to meet their personal goals:
a. Every year
b. In three years
c. In 3-5 years

5.) Students who need transportation or child care support to go to class should
a. Forget about education and keep their boring job
b. Schedule an appointment with Basic Skills/literacy staff to get help with transportation and child care
c. Call/go somewhere else

How well do you think you did on our quiz? Do you think your neighbor would pass the quiz? Test your neighbor’s knowledge on basic skills/literacy in North Carolina.

For the answers to this quiz, please check out the May 2007 Centralina Workforce Development Board’s E-Newsletter.

Did you take the quiz last month and are anxiously awaiting your answers? Well here are the answers to the March Basic Skills/Literacy in North Carolina quiz, and if you haven’t taken last month’s quiz click here!

1.) C – Basic Skills programs serve over 150,000 students annually.

2.) D – The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 defines literacy as “an individual’s ability to read, write, speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual and in society.

3.) A – In North Carolina, Basic Skills/literacy programs exist in all 58 community colleges and in local community based organizations. Federal and state funds are distributed through the Community College System Office to support Basic Skills/literacy education.

4.) A – All Basic Skills/literacy programs are free of charge and are offered in a variety of settings at convenient times. Some students may have to purchase textbooks for home study.

5.) E – Four key areas of focus of Basic Skills/literacy programs are to learn for a living, learn for the future, learn for your family, and learn for yourself. The Race 4 Literacy public awareness campaign targets these four points.

For more information on Basic Skills/literacy programs in the region please contact Emily Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at ebarnes@centralina.org.

Let Us Know

Every month the Centralina Workforce Development Board works hard trying to bring you the most up to date and innovative stories from around the region. We try to incorporate information that can be beneficial to both businesses and job seekers, as well as promote the accomplishments that are being done throughout the Centralina region.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is currently undergoing a rebranding process and we need your help! We want to know what you think of the monthly E-Newsletter. We want to know if the articles are informative and if they are relevant to you and your organization. We’d like to know what you’d like to see more of in the newsletter, as well as what you’d like to see less of. We are looking to improve so that we can give back to you the most cutting-edge and informative newsletter out there.

Please send any comments about the monthly E-Newsletter to Emily Barnes at ebarnes@centralina.org. If you are new to the newsletter and would like to see our previous issues please visit them at www.centralinaworks.com/enewsletter.cfm. We thank you in advance for your feedback and your assistance in our rebranding process!


Stanly County Schools Win the Magna Award

Stanly County Schools has been selected as one of 18 winners in the American School Board Journal’s (ASBJ) Magna Awards 2007 program.

The district’s program, Stanly Early College High School, is one of the five winners in the 5,000 to 20,000 student enrollment category in the 13th annual contest, presented with the support of Sodexho School Services. The program offers students who might otherwise not attend college a shot at higher education.

The program helps students complete high school and earn an associate’s degree in five years. Targeted students have struggled academically, been absent more than usual, come from families in which parents and grandparents did not attend college, and battled problems such as low self-esteem and poor communication skills.

After opening its doors in August 2006, the new high school boasted a 98 percent attendance rate, and 75 percent of students made the honor roll.

The Magna Awards, presented with the support of Sodexho School Services, recognize districts across the country for outstanding programs that advance student learning and encourage community involvement in schools.

“For 13 years, the Magna Awards have rewarded highly innovative thinkers in school districts who grapple with the complex challenges in public education on a daily basis,” said Marilee Rist, ASBJ’s publisher and assistant executive director of the National School Boards Association (NSBA). “This year’s entries showcase excellent examples of school boards, superintendents, and staff who’ve focused on the common threads of community, collaboration, and partnership to advance student learning.”

Sodexho, Inc. is the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management in the United States, Canada and Mexico with $6.7 billion in annual revenue and 125,000+ employees.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council supports and partners with the region’s public schools to help prepare the youth of today for the jobs of tomorrow. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board Youth Council, please contact Emily Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or at ebarnes@centralina.org.

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Anson High School Holds Job Fair for Seniors

Anson High School held its annual Job Fair/Career Day on April 4, 2007. About 200 seniors attended the event, which attracted 19 businesses, according to Anson County Schools Career-Technical Education Director Ray Clayton.

The Job Fair/Career Day gives the seniors and soon-to-be graduates an opportunity to speak with representatives of local businesses, post-secondary schools and the armed forces. It helps to inform students of the products and services of local employers, the different types of jobs available and the requirements needed for those jobs.

Event organizers state that, thanks to community efforts, the Job Fair was a success.
Representatives of the Career-Technical Education Department of Anson High School state that they appreciate the involvement of every business who participated and look forward to another successful job fair next year.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud to partner with Anson County Schools to offer information to the upcoming workforce so they can make smart decisions for their future. Strong youth in the region leads to a strong workforce in the region. For more information on the Centralina Youth Council please contact Emily Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or by email at ebarnes@centralina.org.

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Local Youth Participate in Teen Health Fair

Teen Health Inc. and Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmont held a “Teen Health Fair 2007: The Ideal You”.

During the four-hour program, participants learned about reasonable portions, healthy foods and exercising. Representatives from the Open Door Clinic, Iredell County Health Department, YMCA of Iredell County, Diabetes Center of Iredell Memorial Hospital and North Carolina Cooperative Extension were on hand to help out.

The agencies provided information on sexually transmitted diseases, the top-20 saltiest foods, drugs, proper ways to exercise and the importance of reading nutrition labels.

Participants were divided into breakout sessions, including a “Stepping into Fitness” class taught by Kela Hunt that drew children with the African-American tradition of stepping to increase heart rates. Teen Health’s Karina Urdaneta walked more than a mile inside and outside of the building with students while showing them different walking techniques.

And Mamie Houston gave a lesson on proper portions and healthier food choices, stressing that healthy food doesn’t have to be bland.

“When we think about eating healthy we think we have to eat nasty foods and that’s not true,” she said.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud to partner with Teen Health Inc. and the Boys and Girls Club to bring innovative and informative programs to the youth in the region. Strong healthy youth now, lead to a strong and healthy workforce tomorrow. For more information on the Centralina Youth Council please contact Emily Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or by email at ebarnes@centralina.org.

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Local Youth Leaders Honored With a Trailblazer Award

Union County Public Schools came away with two awards at a recent state panel honoring innovation in teaching methods.

Piedmont Middle School received a regional Trailblazer Award from the North Carolina Association of School Administrators in Raleigh for its use of the E Block and Wild Wednesdays program, a 30-minute daily initiative that includes student-selected tutorials and state test preparation.

“It’s nice to know that some of the things we’re doing for the kids are considered innovative by our peers,” Piedmont principal Anne Radke said.

Meanwhile, recently retired Director of Career and Technical Education Charles Perry received an individual Trailblazer Award for his work in employing technical and vocational training for students.

“Perry was a wonderful leader in career and technical education, not only in our school district, but statewide as well,” Union County Public Schools Superintendent Ed David said.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud to partner with Union County Public Schools to bring innovative and informative programs to the youth in the region. Prepared youth now, lead to a prepared workforce tomorrow. For more information on the Centralina Youth Council please contact Emily Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or by email at ebarnes@centralina.org.

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Employment and Training Offers Grant for Ex-Offenders

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has announced the availability of approximately $5 million in Responsible Reintegration of Youthful Offender grant funds to address the specific workforce challenges of ex-offenders and produce positive outcomes with a particular focus on employment and reduced recidivism. Projects funded under this competition will be consistent with both the agency's Youth Vision and the President’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative.

Grant funds awarded under this competition will be used to implement a program of services for ex-offenders (ages 18 to 29) under a beneficiary-choice contracting model. The beneficiary choice contracting model involves providing program participants with an independent choice among multiple service providers for specific services. Participants will receive case management services from the grantee, but will choose among contracted specialized service providers for more in-depth services, including soft-skills training and long-term follow up on participant outcomes.

The grantee will compensate the contracted specialized service providers on a per capita basis for services provided, as well as per capita performance-based incentives. ETA expects to make five awards including a minimum of two to faith-based and community organizations.

Applicants must be either a faith-based or community organization that is exempt from taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) at the time of application submission, or a government agency (such as a Workforce Investment Board, One-Stop Career Center, corrections agency, State or local government, housing authority). The applicant will be the lead organization that will represent a partnership system that consists of the public workforce system, the local corrections agency and other social services providers (including faith-based and community organizations). At least one of the contracted specialized service providers offered to participants must offer a program that contains no religious content.

The application deadline is May 25, 2007. For a copy of the grant announcement, click here.

For more information on this grant opportunity please contact Emily Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or by email at ebarnes@centralina.org.

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Reducing US High School Drop Outs by 20% Would Yield $18 Billion Economic Benefit

“Is excellent education for all of America’s children a good investment?” asks a new report from Columbia University. According to researchers, 23 percent of males and 15 percent of females leave the education system without a high school degree. If served effectively, these dropouts would each add $65,000-$150,000 to our nation’s economy in wages and reduced health care, crime and public services expenditures. Reducing America’s high school dropout rate by just 20 percent would create a net economic benefit of $18 billion.

The report accounts for the costs of providing a quality education using four well-known and successful education intervention models. The full report, An Excellent Education for All of America’s Children, can be found by clicking here.

 

  


What's Happening in the Region?

Comings, Goings, Kudos…

 
  • Emily Behm, Cabarrus County Schools Career and Technical Education Director is retiring as of June 1, 2007. Emily has served on the Centralina Workforce Development Board since January 2001 and she has also been the vice chair of the Centralina Youth Council. Emily will be deeply missed by all that know her and her contributions to workforce development in the region and to the lives of the youth that she touched will never be forgotten. A celebration has been planned for Emily on Wednesday may 23, 2007 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM at the Education Center in Concord. We will miss you Emily!
 
  • Union County JobLink Career Center Manager Randall Darnell received the NC Department of Labor Safety Award for 2007. Randall received the award from Cherie Berry, North  Carolina Commissioner of Labor. Congratulations Randall!
  • Rowan County Chamber of Commerce President Bob Wright has been inducted into the 25 Year Club of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). The 25-Year Club designation was presented to Wright on behalf o the board of directors of ACCE and signed by its president, Mike Fleming. Wright also will be recognized at the August ACCE annual convention in Sacramento, CA.

  • Sabrina Watts is the new Director of Finance for Union County Community Action, Inc. (UCCA). She has experience in governmental accounting and started her new position on April 30, 2007.

  • The Literacy Council of Union County will be moving to downtown Monroe on May 21, 2007. They were formerly housed at South Piedmont Community College. Their new address is 105-A East Jefferson Street, Monroe, NC 28112. For more information please contact Linda Moyer at 704.226.1425.

  • Dusty Moser is the new Anson County Chamber of Commerce office manager. She is a native of Pageland, S.C. and a four-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. Dusty succeeds Pam Layfield.

  • Anson County Manager Andy Lucas graduated from the County Administration Course of the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The course is 150 hours long and is led by more than 40 instructors. Lucas also won the Edwin M. Gill Award, which is presented each year to the program’s most outstanding student from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

• Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting
Tuesday June 12, 2007 – 4:30 PM
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce – Kannapolis

• Union County Career Fair
Thursday May 3, 2007 – 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
South Piedmont Community College – Old Charlotte Highway Campus – Monroe
Cost: Free for attendees
Contact: Linda Kappauf at 704.290.5215

• La-Z-Boy Job Fair
Friday May 4, 2007 – 8:15 AM – 12:30 PM
La-Z-Boy Facility – Lincoln County
Cost: Free for attendees
Business Contact to Participate: Mindy Solano at 704-735-4797
or by email at mindy.solano@la-z-boy.com

• Transition Fair
Tuesday May 8, 2007
9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (morning session)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (evening session)
South Piedmont Community College Conference Center – Monroe
RSVP: Steve Ramsey at 704.296.4320 or Mary Walls at 704.289.2543 or 704.982.8124

• Untapped Resources to Improve Your Bottom Line
Wednesday May 9, 2007 – 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Rowan Cabarrus Community College – South Campus – Concord
Other information: Limit 2 attendees per company
RSVP: Carolyn Mays at 704.786.3183 or by email at carolyn.mays@ncmail.net

• Start your Own Construction Company
Thursday May 10, 2007 – 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Lockhart-Taylor Center – Wadesboro
Cost: $5.00 per seat
To Register: 704.290.5222 or 704.242.4847

• Building Business Negotiating Skills
Thursday May 10, 2007 – 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
The Employers Association – 3020 West Arrowood Road – Charlotte
Cost: $99.00
To Register: 704.973.1143 or visit www.charlottebusinessjournal.com

• Building Entrepreneurial Communities: Why, How and What Role for Local Leaders
Thursday May 17, 2007 – 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Greenville Hilton – Greenville, NC
Cost: $75.00
Register Contact: Angela Bowden at 919.843.8176 or by email at bowdena@sog.unc.edu

• The Ultimate Power Lunch
Monday May 21, 2007 – 12:00 PM
Holiday Inn – Salisbury
Cost: $15.00 per person
RSVP: 704.633.4221 – sponsored by the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce

• Racing to Success In Rowan County
Tuesday May 22, 2007 – 7:30AM – 9:30 AM
The Gateway – 204 East Innes Street – Salisbury
RSVP: 704.637.0760, ext. 383

• Business Show 2007
Thursday May 24, 2007 - 10:00AM – 5:00 PM
Holiday Inn – Salisbury
Cost: Free
Contact: Rowan County Chamber of Commerce at 704.633.4221

• Critical Thinking Conference
Friday June 1, 2007 – 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
York Technical College – Rock Hill, SC – Science and Technology Building, Room 239
Cost: $50.00
Register Online: www.yorktech.com or call 803.325.2882 or 803.325.2888

• Energizing Entrepreneurship in Rural North Carolina
Monday June 11, 2007 – Wednesday June 13, 2007
Broyhill Inn & Conference Center – Boone
Cost: $275.00 plus lodging, lodging is available at the Broyhill Inn for &108.00 a night – to make reservations please call 828.262.2204 and ask for the Rural Center room block
Register: Contact Leslie Scott at lscott@ncruralcenter.org

• MPACT Skilled Maintenance and Facilities Engineering Job Fair
Thursday July 19, 2007 – 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
MPACT Learning Center, LLC – Greensboro, NC
For Businesses to attend please contact: Joel Leonard at 336.379.1444, ext. 102
For attendees: Please bring a hard copy of resume and send a soft copy to joel@mpactlearning.com

• Junior Achievement is looking for volunteers and sponsors in Cabarrus & Rowan Counties:
Opportunities:
-Volunteer
-Sponsor a class or child
-Help lead the success of Junior Achievement in Cabarrus County
Contact: Stacey Richards, Junior Achievement District Manager
704.563.4858 or srichards@jacarolinas.org

NC Workforce Development Training Center Training Announcements

Delivering Excellent Customer Service in the JobLink Center
May 1, 2007
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Elizabeth City State University - K. E. White Center – Elizabeth City
Fee: none

Delivering Excellent Customer Service in the JobLink Center
May 2, 2007
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Elizabeth City State University - K. E. White Center – Elizabeth City
Fee: none

Effective Case Management
May 17, 2007
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Workforce Development Training Center – Raleigh
Fee: $45.00

For more information about these and other training offerings or to register for training, please visit: www.ncwdtc.com
 

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