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For
three strong days – December 6-8, 2007, the 20th Annual
Performance Racing Industry Trade Show celebrated its platinum
anniversary with a record number of exhibitors and booths, packed
aisles with racing industry members doing business face to face,
and more hardcore racing parts on its 1,000,000-square-foot show
floor than ever before.
In
record-setting fashion, more than 1450 companies exhibited in more
than 4200 booths during the PRI Trade Show at Orlando’s Orange
County Convention Center. There was an unprecedented selection of
the newest racing parts and technology. Exhibitors at the Show came
from 47 countries, making it the world’s largest racing trade
show.
State
Farm Insurance Company
The
announcement was made in Kannapolis because of 
Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College (RCCC) will use the money to upgrade
its North Campus health and science program laboratories and classrooms.
Two-thirds of the grant will be used to transform some existing
space into a fully digitized radiography laboratory. The remainder
will help the college upgrade labs and classrooms used to teach
biology and chemistry courses.
Cabarrus
Health Alliance
The
rural Health Care Pilot Program will start in several counties in
the region.
Things
are changing on the 
“I’m
pleased with the site. I’m proud a United Way our size can
have a professionally done website that’s got tons of local
information,” said Pat Stewart, United Way’s
executive director.
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300 Million Reasons Why it Was a Great Year!Monroe Economic Development Had $303.6 Million in Investment in 2007
Monroe experienced the two single largest investments by industry in its history. These investments solidified the city as a leader in Aerospace for the Region, the State and the Southeast. Monroe’s Economic Development Commission applied for and was awarded nearly $1.2 million in grants assisting with the infrastructure for developments. Along with the successes in recruitment, retention and product development, the office has also expanded its sphere of responsibility by receiving the management duties for the Monroe Regional Airport, Monroe Tourism Development and the City’s Public Information efforts. The Centralina Workforce Development Board would like to congratulate the Monroe Economic Development Commission on a job well done! When partnering together in the region everyone shines! The Monroe Economic Development Commission would like to thank the Charlotte Regional Partnership, the NC Department of Commerce, South Piedmont Community College, NC Employment Security Commission, Union County JobLink Career Center, ElectriCities of NC, Centralina Workforce Development Board, Union County Partnership for Progress and the Union County Chamber of Commerce. For more on this story please contact Chris Plate at cplate@monroenc.org. |
It’s
been a great year for 
2007
was the best year on record for the city surpassing the
previous record of $114 million in 2003. ATI Allvac
and Turbomeca Manufacturing made the builk
of the investment accounting for $260 million.
Things
will really be taking off at the 
“An
improved airport is critical to economic development and
a better quality of life. Better transportation infrastructure
will lead to an easing of traffic congestion and ultimately
means more jobs and more opportunities in Stanly County
and across the 8th District,” said Hayes.
Power
Curbers
Power
Curbers makes machines that make concrete curbs and employs
84 people in Rowan County. The company has more than 50
foreign distributors. The company was founded in 1953 by
Messinger’s grandfather and has been passed down through
the generations.
History
is being made in Monroe as 
Allvac
officials received a plaque commemorating the recognition
at one of the company’s Monroe buildings. A company
must be 50 years old to receive the Historical Landmark
award, and as reported in the Centralina Workforce Development
Board’s monthly E-Newsletter earlier this year Allvac
recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The
first tenant has committed to be housed in the new Balsom
Ridge Business Park in Denver. 
Leonard
Automatics makes garment-finishing equipment for the dry-cleaning
and other industries. It will invest $2 million to move
to the new business park and will add three more jobs. The
company is moving from the Denver Industrial Park to Balsom
Ridge for more space. 
Matt
Agosta, CEO of 
Carolina
Stalite Company
Looking to Train Your Workforce and Don’t Know How? Contact the Centralina WDB Right Now!
Incumbent Worker Training Funds Available
Want a great way to help upgrade the skills of your current workforce and prepare for the future? The Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) can help. The Centralina WDB 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 second application round for funding will close on January 21, 2008, with one more round to follow. 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 NC Department of Commerce 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.
Please contact Vail 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
January 21, 2008. So don’t delay, submit your application
today!
Great Local Partnership Recognized
Stanly Community College’s Adult Literacy Program Wins Innovation Award
Stanly
Community College’s Adult Literacy Program recently
won the 2007 Innovation Award for its Allied Health
Careers Camp at the North Carolina Community College Association
of Educators of Adults fall conference.
The Innovation award is the association’s way of recognizing and rewarding creativity in course programming, management practice, communication, marketing, or customer service in Continuing Education programs.
The
Allied Health Careers Camp that the Stanly Adult Literacy Program
offered students came from them receiving a grant from the Area
Health Education Center (AHEC) that allowed the program to have
students visiting allied health programs at Stanly Community College,
gaining hands-on experience with some of the equipment used in career
fields, and meeting with program instructors for question and answer
sessions. Students also got to tour Stanly Manor, Stanly Regional
Medical Center, and the Stanly County Health Department. A total
of 17 students ranging in age from 17-50 participated in the camp.
And just how did this great program happen? At a Stanly County JobLink Management Team meeting, Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars provided information on possible grants from Charlotte AHEC for allied health career camps. A representative from Charlotte AHEC had previously presented information on the camps at a Centralina Youth Council meeting. Armed with this information, Stanly Community College Associate Dean, Kathy Gardner, contacted AHEC to see if adult literacy programs could be included in the grant application. AHEC officials were agreeable, the application was submitted, and the program is now an award winner!
Thanks to the power of partnership with the Stanly County JobLink Career Center, the Centralina Workforce Development Board, Stanly Regional Medical Center and the Allied Health programs of Stanly Community College, the Allied Health Careers Camp program received recognition and students received a chance to see allied health occupations up close and personal.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to partner with Stanly Community College’s Adult Literacy Program to help educate students on the career options available to them. For more information on the Stanly Community College’s Adult Literacy Program, please contact Kathy Gardner at (704) 991-0278 or by email at kgardner5070@stanly.edu. For more information on the AHEC Grant, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by email at eclamp@centralina.org.
Businesses Identify Skill Gaps in Region
Workforce Board Led Statewide Skills Survey
Employers across North Carolina are concerned about the quality of workers they are currently hiring. A statewide skills survey conducted by Business Service representatives from North Carolina’s Workforce Development Boards, and compiled by the Centralina Workforce Development Board, revealed employers are generally satisfied with the quality of preparation provided by the state’s community college system but noted several issues with the current and emerging workforce.
Some
65% of companies surveyed indicated they regularly reject applicants
due to lack of skills and noted a lack of workers with good computer,
customer service, and communication skills. Skills in machining,
welding and various health-related fields also rated as being in
short supply now and in the future. The survey included data from
335 companies who employ between 10-999 employees. About 39% of
the respondents were from manufacturing firms, followed by health
care and community services at 11.3%. All primary sectors of the
business community were represented in the survey.
Survey questions were designed to determine if there was a statewide skills shortage and also document future skills needs. Questions were also included to probe employers’ assessment of new hires and issues surrounding the recruiting process. Respondents noted on one open ended question that they are experiencing a general lack of work ethic among the emerging workforce, coupled with weak basic skills.
David Hollars, Centralina Workforce Development Board Executive Director, recently stated that “this survey demonstrates the importance of an adequately trained workforce and underscores the need for the Career Readiness Certification programs now underway at the community colleges and JobLink Career Centers in our region. North Carolina must address the identified skills gaps now if our workforce is going to compete in the global economy.”
Other findings noted in the survey were:
- 63% of respondents indicated say they are willing to participate in a public forum designed to address specific workforce training issues.
- 77.2% of employers use the local newspaper to recruit workers followed by word of mouth at 76%.
- 33% of employers provide little or no training for their employees.
- 46.2% of respondents realize there are skills shortage issues and are increasing efforts to retain their current workers.
The Business Services Representatives responsible for deployment of the survey and data collection represent the 24 Workforce Development Boards who are responsible for workforce policy development and service delivery in North Carolina’s 100 counties. You can access the full report on the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s website at www.centralinaworks.com and by going to the Publications page.You can also access it by clicking here. For more information on the Skills Gap Survey please contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 or by email at vcarter@centralina.org.
NC Research Campus Update!
Find Out the Latest Happenings at One of the Most Happening Places in Our Region
Duke
Hiring Employees for Kannapolis Office
Duke University
announced that it will have four employees housed at the NC
Research Campus by January 2008. The school is in the
last stages of interviews with candidates for three positions, according
to Victoria Christian of Duke Translational Medicine
Institute.
The three key positions that start in January are directly related to the groundbreaking medical study that the University will conduct at the Research Campus called the MURDOCK Study. The Centralina Workforce Development Board covered the details of the study in a recent E-Newsletter article about the NC Research Campus. The MURDOCK Study is named for David H. Murdock, the owner of Dole Food Company and creator of the $1.5 billion biotech center in downtown Kannapolis.
Eventually between 12 and 16 people will work in the Duke University’s office located on the NC Research Campus. So far the school has hired local job seekers to fill some of the positions. For more information on possible employment at the NC Research Campus please contact Carolyn Mays at the Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center at (704) 786-3183 or by email at Carolyn.mays@ncmail.net.
Summit
Brings Universities Together on Campus
On Tuesday November 27, 2007 public university officials from across
the state came to the NC Research Campus in Kannapolis to share
how each was working with private business and industry to expand
the bounds of research at the North Carolina Economic Development
Summit for High Education.
Attendees received a personal tour of the campus and saw first hand how the NC Research Campus is a perfect example of partnerships between city and county government, public universities, community colleges, private companies and the leadership of billionaire financial backer David Murdock. With the combined goals of all of these organizations the community and the state will do nothing but benefit.
The event was hosted by Senator Richard Burr and was part of his North Carolina Economic Development Series to improve the state’s access to federal resources.
Benefits
of NC Research Campus Reach Out to All Counties
Cabarrus County is not the only county waiting for the Research
Campus to be finished many counties around the region are eagerly
awaiting the completion of the NC Research Campus as well.
Many counties surrounding the Campus are seeing the future benefits that it can offer their own communities. New organizations, new businesses will be looking to relocate to the region for the Campus and will possibly choose to set up shop in counties around Cabarrus. This has many communities anxiously awaiting the completion and preparing their workforce for possible new businesses.
Please stay tuned to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for more developments on these exciting stories. For more information on what is going on at the NC Research Campus please visit the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s website at www.centralinaworks.com.
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New Program in Cabarrus County has Students Tutoring StudentsA.L. Brown High School and the Cabarrus Literacy Council are partnering together to test a pilot program that partners teens that are struggling in school, losing interest and/or are in danger of slipping through the cracks with peers that can serve both as academic tutors and social mentors.
The Cabarrus Literacy Council’s model will have initial introductions done between teens and their tutors before the holidays and the pairs will then meet a minimum of once a week before or after the school day. Tutors will be responsible for submitting monthly progress reports to the Literacy Council, which will provide continued training to ensure effective relationships. The tutors will be trained by the Cabarrus Literacy Council, which is located at the Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center in Concord. “I’m telling you this will work,” Katrina said. “If they have their trust and confidence, it’s going to win.” For more information about this new program or the Cabarrus Literacy Council please contact Katrina Duke at (704) 786-7323. Would you like to get involved with helping to put an end to illiteracy in the Centralina region? If so find out how you can help! Please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by email at eclamp@centralina.org. * * * *
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Statesville, Salisbury, and Monroe High Schools Nationally Recognized
The study conducted by U.S. News & World Report – in collaboration with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education and data research and analysis business that provides parents with education data on www.schoolmatters.com, analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 18,000 public high schools to find the very best across the country. The top schools were placed into gold, silver, or bronze medal categories. A total of 34 schools in North Carolina received either a silver or bronze medal. “We’ve been very excited, excited for our teachers and staff and our children,” said Monroe High Principal Mike Webb, who attributed the acclaim to effort. “It’s a commitment by the students, community and teachers that are here.”
The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud to have three nationally recognized top schools in the region. The Board and Youth Council are strong partners with all of the public school systems in the region. For more information on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by email at npender@centralina.org.
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Rowan-Salisbury Schools to Start Learn and Earn Early College
The early college program allows students to enroll in community college while still in high school and to graduate with a high school diploma as well as an associate’s degree or two years of college credit within a five-year time frame. The school will operate just like a public high school, all instruction and materials will be free to students.
Currently in the Centralina WDB region Anson County, Iredell-Statesville, Stanly County, and Union County school systems have early college high schools in place in cooperation with local community colleges. When the early college is fully implemented in Rowan-Salisbury Schools, it can serve up to 400 students. Please continue to watch the Centralina Workforce Development Board monthly E-Newsletter for developments on this exciting event in the region. * * *
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Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce Focuses Youth on the Soft SkillsAt the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual Youth Employability Skills Conference about a dozen juniors and seniors from each of the seven county high schools heard first-hand advice about how to build their careers. The focus of the event was on the “soft skills” that business leaders say they desperately need from the upcoming and current workforce. Career development counselors and technical education teachers distributed applications and picked participants most likely to benefit from gaining some of the “soft skills” that will be crucial to succeeding in their first jobs. Students who attended were expected to dress and conduct themselves professionally throughout the event, which was structured to resemble a business conference. Students who attended the half day conference heard from Cabarrus County’s top industries: motorsports, finance, hospitality, and technology. The guest speaker at the event was Sandra Benfield, director of service excellence for CMC – NorthEast. Every year the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce conducts this event in the hopes to better connect youth with businesses and to offer them the opportunity to see how what they are doing now applies later on down the line in their careers. For more information on the 2007 Youth Employability Skills Conference, please contact the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce at (704) 782-4000.
Business Leaders Want Creativity Taught in SchoolsAs the job market becomes more and more competitive many of our youth need more than just good grades, problem solving skills and the basic skill set to be successful in the workforce. Many businesses are in a desperate need for their employees to have creativity for even the most technical jobs.
Creativity Matters wants schools to come up with more creative ways of teaching the basics, such as math and reading. An example being Aviation High School, a magnet school in Seattle. Students learn math and science and other subjects through projects such as flying airplanes, studying weather, aviation law and aerospace industry. The teachers then give the students a project that allows the students to apply the ideas and principals learned in class to the end result. Liu states that if a high school diploma is going to meaningful, it needs to include more than a list of skills to check off. “We want the diploma to be a promise, a social contract with whoever gets our kids next,” Liu said. For more information on Creativity Matters please contact Eric Liu at (206) 684-7347 or by email at eric@guidinglightsnetwork.com. You can also visit their website at www.creativitymatters.net.
Centralina Youth Council Meeting Schedule for 2008The Centralina Youth Council has approved their 2008 meeting schedule. The meetings are open to anyone that wishes to attend. Young adults are encouraged to attend and apply for membership. Youth service providers from throughout the region and others interested in building our future workforce are also encouraged to attend the meetings. The 2008 meeting dates are:
Location for the meetings will be the Boys and Girls Club in Concord unless otherwise noted. Meeting minutes and other information regarding the Youth Council can be found at www.centralinaworks.com. For
more information on the Centralina WDB Youth Council meetings
or for information regarding attending, please contact Natasha
Pender at (704) 348-2725 or at npender@centralina.org.
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This
new initiative from the Cabarrus Learning Center will start
at A.L. Brown and then will expand to other schools throughout
the county. Katrina Duke, Cabarrus Literacy
Council executive director, spoke at the kick off event
for the program. Katrina spoke to juniors and seniors at
A.L. Brown High School and got them motivated to serve as
tutors for their peers.
Three
schools in the Centralina WDB region have been awarded a
Bronze Medal by the 
The
2008 U.S.News & World Report America's Best
High Schools methodology, developed by School Evaluation
Services, a K-12 education data research business run by
Standard & Poor's, is based on the key principles that
a great high school must serve all its students well, not
just those who are bound for college, and that it must be
able to produce measurable academic outcomes that show the
school is successfully educating its student body across
a range of performance indicators.
Rowan-Salisbury
Schools
Governor
Mike Easley created the early college program in
2004 as a response to the workforce development needs in
North Carolina. There are a total of 42 early college high
schools in North Carolina currently and it is Easley’s
goal for all the school systems in North Carolina to have
early college programs in place.
In
Seattle, Washington, an organization called 
“A
flexible, adaptive, lifelong learner who can think creatively
and solve problems and frame problems creatively. That’s
what everybody’s looking for,” says Eric Liu,
the motivational speaker and mentoring creator of the Creativity
Matters.
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What's Happening in the Region?Comings, Goings, Kudos…
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•
Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting •
Centralina WDB JobLink Managers Meeting •
Centralina WDB Youth Council Meeting •
Improve Your English Language Skills •
Improve Your English Language Skills •
Junior Achievement is looking for volunteers and sponsors
in Cabarrus & Rowan Counties:
NC Workforce Development Training Center Training Announcements Engaging
& Retaining Older Youth in WIA Programs Career
Development Facilitator
For
more information about these and other training offerings or to
register for training, please visit: www.ncwdtc.com |
Robert
VanGeons has been selected to be the new executive
director of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development
Commission. VanGeons currently is the executive
director of the Stanly County Economic Development Commission
and serves on the Centralina Workforce Development Board.
He will start his new position on January 8, 2008. Congratulations
Robert!
Dr.
Scott Ralls has been selected the new system
President of the State Board of Community Colleges.
He is currently the President of Craven Community College
and will start his new job on April 1, 2008. He succeeds
Martin Lancaster who announced his
retirement earlier this year. The Centralina WDB looks
forward to working with such an outstanding and innovative
leader.
Dr.
Barry Shepherd has been named the Superintendent
of Cabarrus County Schools. He currently
serves as the superintendent for Elkin City Schools
in Elkin. He is succeeding Dr. Harold Winkler
who is retiring on February 1, 2008. Dr. Shepherd will
start his new position on January 22, 2008. Welcome
to the region Dr. Shepherd!
Dr.
Peggy Terhune, executive director of the Arc
of Stanly County received the Executive
Excellence Award from the National Conference
of Executive in October. This award recognizes executives
and professionals for their outstanding efforts of behalf
of the Arc. Congratulations Peggy! 
Maggie
Nelson a volunteer for the Literacy
Council of Union County was honored with a
wooden commemorative football from the Carolina Panthers
for being a Community Quarterback. Nelson has been a
volunteer at the Literacy Council for nine years. The
Council also received a $2,500 check from the Carolina
Panthers. Great job Maggie!
Union
County Public Schools Deputy Superintendent
Bill Stegall has been recognized for
his “sustained and significant contributions”
to education by the Southwest Education Alliance.
Stegall has worked for Union County Public Schools for
over 40 years and also serves as an adjunct professor
of education at Wingate University.
Sara
Tice, Iredell County Commissioner announced
that she will not seek re-election in 2008. Tice has
served as a Commissioner for 18 years and also serves
as chair of the Centralina Workforce Development Board
Consortium. You will be missed Sara! 
Representative
Pryor Gibson received the Public Leadership
in Technology Award at the 2007 NCTA 21 Awards
event held on November 15 in Raleigh. The event honors
21 companies and individuals who represent the best
in technology and business and demonstrate outstanding
leadership.
Crystal
Gettys has been named as the existing business
manager for the Lincoln Economic Development
Association. She will maintain and expand relations
with industries already located in Lincoln County and
work closely with the Industrial Management Association.
Gettys will replace Charity Pittman,
who stepped down in December. She will begin her new
position on January 2, 2008.
Irene
Sacks has been hired as the new business and
community affairs director for the City of Kannapolis.
She comes from Market Street Services in Atlanta, Georgia
and will start her new position on March 1, 2008. Welcome
to the region Irene! 
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Visit
our website at www.centralinaworks.com
to learn more about the Centralina WDB |
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To
learn more about the Centralina Council of Governments please visit
www.centralina.org
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| CentralinaWORKS is a publication of the Centralina Workforce Development Board. If you do not wish to receive this E-Newsletter in the future, please send a return e-mail and type "REMOVE" in the Subject Line and you will be removed from our distribution list. The CWDB does not share its distribution list with other organizations. Please feel free to share this E-Newsletter with co-workers and other business associates. |