Welcome to Our Region!

Centralina Workforce Development Board Hosts MIS Users Group Meeting

The Centralina Workforce Development Board was proud to host a meeting of the North Carolina Management Information Systems (MIS) Users Group on Wednesday February 13, 2008. This was the first time the MIS Users Group had met in the Centralina region. The meeting was well attended with representatives from across the state representing all but one workforce development board.

Patricia White, Centralina Workforce Development Board Operations Manager hosted the event. David Hollars, Centralina Workforce Development Board Executive Director spoke to the group about the valuable work the MIS Users Group does to help the workforce boards in the State.

The MIS Users Group consists of professionals from all 24 workforce development boards in North Carolina. They are professionals that work with WorkforcePlus management information system for data entry and case management of JobLink and WIA customers and includes administrators, accountability specialists, program planners and coordinators.

The MIS Users Group meets monthly to discuss matters relating to the Workforce Investment Act, the WorkforcePlus system, performance measures, and data validation.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board would like to thank all of the MIS Users Group members who attended the meeting and welcome them back to our region anytime! For more information on the MIS Users Group, please contact Patricia White at (704) 348-2718 or by e-mail at pwhite@centralina.org. 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.

Bring Your Skills-UP!

R3 Center Receives Project Skill-UP Grant

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s R3 Center has announced a new grant that the Center was recently awarded. The Project Skill-UP Grant is for individuals that have been adversely impacted by the tobacco industry.

The main objective of the grant is to help these individuals assess their career goals and provide short-term training when applicable. The grant assists in helping individuals with their short-term training by providing funding opportunities.

Traditionally there are limited funding options for individuals wishing to enroll in a continuing education course. However, the Project Skill-UP funding is exclusively for Continuing Education Courses and programs. Funding will cover participants cost in tuition/registration, books and supplies.

The R3 Center will be the hosting site for Project Skill-UP at their location at 164 Dale Earnhardt Blvd in Kannapolis.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a strong partner with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the R3 Center. The Board is excited that the Center has such an innovative grant coming in to assist dislocated workers in the region. For more information about the Project Skill-UP Grant please contact Barbara Meidl at (704) 216-7212.

New Technology = A Brighter Future

South Piedmont Community College Open House for New Advanced Manufacturing Center

South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) hosted an open house Tuesday February 26, 2008 in the college’s new 3,500-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center on the Old Charlotte Highway Campus.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center marks the first phase in the development of a comprehensive Advanced Manufacturing Center at SPCC. The start-up of this new program is the result of a $229,060 Duke Energy Carolinas’ Community College Grant announced in June 2007.

SPCC President John McKay said the Duke Energy grant will increase SPCC’s industrial training capacity, and initially machinist training will be provided for employees of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry’s Plastics Division located across the road from SPCC’s Old Charlotte Highway Campus. Charlotte Plastics partnered with the college to develop the proposal submitted to Duke Energy.

The Duke Energy grant also provided start-up funds for an instructor/coordinator for the machining program. Mike Willard was brought on-board in December.

McKay praises Duke Energy for recognizing not only the important role that community colleges play in training our state’s workforce, but also the need for substantial financial support required by community colleges to be successful trainers.

Duke Energy’s Community College Grant program provides a financial boost that helps enable college systems to extend their expertise, to provide rewarding opportunities for students, and ultimately, to help revitalize manufacturing in the Carolinas.

Duke Energy’s Community College Grant program is managed by The Foundation for the Carolinas, a nonprofit community foundation serving donors and a broad range of charitable purposes in North and South Carolina. With assets of more than $500 million, the Foundation makes possible philanthropic giving by individuals of all means to benefit their communities.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with South Piedmont Community College and is excited to see the positive effects from this center in the region for the workforce. For more information on the SPCC machining program or the open house, contact Stuart Wasilowski, at (704) 290-5240 or Todd Morris at (704) 290-5219.

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 third and final application round for funding will close on May 20, 2008. 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 May 20, 2008. So don’t delay, submit your application today!

Another Team Races into Centralina Region

MCR Racing Moving to Lincolnton

MCR Racing will break ground next month at the newly opened Blasom Ridge Business Park in Denver on a 22,000 square-foot facility that will be the new home of the company.

Owner, Michael Colucci is moving his Brumos Porsche racing team to Lincoln County and is bringing with him a handful of long-time employees but expects to hire the remaining 15 crew members locally when he is off and running.

Colucci joins at least a couple dozen motor sports and racing affiliated companies that have already chosen Lincoln County as their permanent base.

“Every time we turn around, it seems there is another motor sports company moving here,” said Barry Matherly, executive director for Lincoln Economic Development Association.

Colucci states that although this region is the “center of the racing world in the United States” it is the people that attracted him to the region.

“Above all, what impressed me most there are the people,” he said.

Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development.

Moving Business to a “Higher Level” in Stanly County

High Level Components Opens New Plant in Locust

High Level Components in Locust held a ribbon cutting on Friday February 8, 2008 at their new plant on Browns Hills Road.

The company manufactures roof and floor trusses of varying designs. Currently, the plant produces 75-100 trusses each day, but the number is increasing daily.

Leon Huneycutt, co-owner of the company stated that the location was chosen because it was close to their sister company, Locust Lumber and that they wanted to remain close to Charlotte as it continues to expand.

There are 14 employees working at the plant, but Leon stated that the company needs to hire more experienced truss builders in the near future.

Full capacity for the plant would include approximately 50 employees, but the business dictates how long it will take for the company to reach full capacity.

“Our business can continue to grow because we started it from scratch and we’ve seen it grow already,” Leon said.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to see a home grown business in the region continue to expand. It is the great workforce in the Centralina region that allows our businesses to continue to grow and drive more business to the area. Helping local businesses flourish is just one of the priorities for the Centralina Workforce Development Board, want to know our others? Just visit us online at www.centralinaworks.com.

A New Wind is Blowing

A2 Wind Tunnel Attracts Crowd to Mooresville

Mooresville’s A2 Wind Tunnel had some new visitors in February. The Wind Tunnel that is usually used as a testing ground for race cars, got a visit from members of a unique professional cycling team.

Team Type 1, a Wisconsin-based cycling team consisting of several athletes with Type 1 diabetes, spent a day studying body positions in the wind tunnel to discover the best way to decrease drag caused by wind, thus allowing them to better compete.

“Most of your drag comes from the athlete in the air,” said Tom Schuler, president of Team Sports Inc., which manages Team Type 1. He stated that the goal of their wind tunnel visit was to better understand the body’s position in relation to aerodynamics as well as build a relationship with the A2 Wind Tunnel staff in order to continue using their facility for testing.

After AeroDyn built its A2 Wind Tunnel on Mazeppa Road in the spring of 2006, its owners began talking about testing more than just race cars. Bicycle testing began in October 2007 as the A2 staff applied its knowledge of NASCAR and aerodynamics to cycling.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to see a local business thinking outside of the box to reach and attract more unique visitors to the Centralina region. It is businesses thinking outside of the box that keep this region ahead of others in the state and in the country. For more information on the A2 Wind Tunnel please visit them at their website at www.A2wt.com. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2732 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

$60 Million Investment in the Region

Ground is Broken for the New Drag Strip in Concord

On Tuesday February 5, 2008 Bruton Smith broke ground on his $60 million drag strip across from Lowe’s Motor Speedway in a new and unusual way. Instead of using the usual gold shovel he had a heavy duty excavator turn over the dirt.

“Today we are truly beginning a new era in motorsports in Concord,” said Mayor Scott Padgett.

Smith expects the drag strip to be finished in time for a National Hot Rod Association event in September. Local tourism officials estimate that the event will bring $9.8 million into the area’s economy.

Currently the drag strip is called The Dragway at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, although Smith is running a contest to rename it.

Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this developing story.

Company Expansion Brings 80 New Jobs to Lincoln County

SABO USA Lands Deal and Gives Back to the Community

SABO USA, Inc. in Lincolnton will soon be celebrating an expansion of 60,000 square feet due to a deal that was just landed with GM. The Brazilian company decided to invest over $10 million in Lincoln County because of the significant growth mainly due to General Motors.

The company has received three significant projects from General Motors. They are creating new 6-speed automatic transmissions that will be used in the Saturn Aura, Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, and GMC Acadia. Originally, the company planned to manufacture half in Brazil and half in Lincolnton, however now they have decided to manufacture all of the products in Lincolnton.

According to R. Panico Peres, Director of Operations in North Carolina, an expansion of 60,000 square-feet will indeed happen earlier than planned with a forecasted $10 million minimum investment and additional workforce of 80 employees by 2010.

Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-newsletter and its website (www.centralinaworks.com) for up to date information on this exciting new development in the region.

What’s in a Name?

Monroe Regional Airport Changes Name to Reach More Executives

Monroe Regional Airport has changed its name in the hopes that it will make it more marketable to corporate flights. The City Council voted to change the name to Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport.

“The new name is intended to make Monroe more marketable to corporate flights,” said Chris Plate, the city’s economic development and aviation director. “Adding Charlotte to the name will help distinguish Monroe, NC from Monroe, LA and the many other municipalities around the nation with the same name. Executive emphasizes the business oriented service the airport will provide.”

The name change is taking place as planning for a $22 million expansion gets under way. The plans included added a longer and stronger runway, which will make it easier for large aircraft to land. The expansion is expected to be completed by 2010.

Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this developing story.

February'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 Keystone Powdered Metal Company in Cherryville, NC. Edd Wheeler of Keystone Powdered Metal Company completed and submitted the survey. We thank Edd for helping us with our continuous improvement feedback process! For more information about Keystone Powdered Metal Company please visit www.keystonepm.com.

If you haven't completed the survey, you can do so now by going to our website. 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.

 

SERVICE STATISTICS

Centralina JobLink Career Centers Statistics
(January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2007)
County
Customers Served
Customers Placed in Jobs
Employer Job Orders Filled
Anson

11,930
  536
  139
Cabarrus
39,034
1,444
1,175
Iredell
13,936
2,184
1,985
Lincoln
18,103
1,334
  559
Rowan
31,466
1,404
1,506
Stanly
15,073
1,320
1,058
Union
16,558
1,356
1,333

For more information on employment, click here

Centralina Workforce Development Board and Partners Come Together to Reach Out of School Youth in Stanly County

In January of 2008, Stanly Community College (SCC) announced a new program that would be offered to out of school youth who are unemployed called the ANCHOR (Attitude, Nurture, Character, Honesty, Occupation, and Resources) Program.

This program is being offered through a cooperative arrangement between Stanly Community College, the Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Resource Development Center.

The motto of the program is “Addressing needs and planting seeds.” Participants in this program will spend 2 days per week in SCC’s Corporate and Professional Education Center learning skills relating to customer service, computer introduction courses, and Intro to Industry and Trade Skills. Youth will also prepare for getting the Career Readiness Certification, their GED and going through the Money Smart program. The goal of ANCHOR is to provide intensive training for one semester to allow students to take control of their world and begin a new direction toward success.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to partner with many great organizations in the region to reach all youth. Helping to prepare the youth of today for the workforce of tomorrow is one of the top priorities for the Board. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is eager to see what positive changes will be made as this program blossoms and reaches more and more youth in Stanly County. For more information on the ANCHOR Program please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by email at eclamp@centralina.org. To find out more about the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

An Auction That Delivers the Goods!

Stanly Community College Program Wins Award for Television Show

Congratulations are in order for the Carolina Auction Academy (CAA), a division of Stanly Community College (SCC) that recently won a state contest for an informative television show.

The show aired on Stanly County’s local Channel 7 and focused on the auction method of marketing and changes that have taken place over the last 40 years in the auctioneering profession. CAA Instructors Bill and Betty O’Neal were moderators and Ted Hinson, owner of Hinson Auction House in Oakboro, was a special guest on the show.

The show was entered in the Auctioneer Association of North Carolina’s (AANC) annual advertising contest. It was judged by a private marketing company out of Greensboro and won Best of Category in the Radio/TV/Audio Visual category.

“Auctioneering is a rising billion dollar industry, and CAA is one of only three licensed schools in North Carolina to train professional auctioneers,” said Betty O’Neal, director of SCC’s Business Resource Center.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with Stanly Community College and the Board encourages all of the region’s Community Colleges to create new and innovative programs that lead our workforce into the future. For more information on the Carolina Auction Academy please call (704) 991-0200 or you can email them at caa@stanly.edu. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Unlimited Potential!

LifeBuilder Ministries Receives $112,000 Microsoft Grant

LifeBuilder Ministries in Kannapolis has received a second grant from Microsoft Corporation through the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Grant program. The $112,000 grant is intended to renew and expand the computer access and technology training provided already.

Life Builder has partnered with the Kannapolis City Schools and the A.L. Brown Cyber Campus to provide access to computers and basic computer training for unemployed and underemployed adults in our region. Over three hundred individual course completions have been celebrated since it the programs beginning in 2004.

The program has allowed LifeBuilder Ministries to offer basic computer classes in keyboarding, mouse skills, as well as use of Microsoft Office applications. Adults from the ages of 30 to 80 have participated in the basic classes.

This new grant will allow LifeBuilder Ministries to collaborate with other agencies to reach more people with basic computer training and access to technology. Plans are being developed for programs in partnership with the Cabarrus Literacy Council, the Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center, and Cooperative Christian Ministry’s Shelter programs.

Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development! For more information on the programs at LifeBuilder Ministries please call (704) 938-8876.

Union County Literacy Council is Looking for Participants for the Next Spelling BEE

Look Out! The 10th Annual Adult Community Spelling Bee is just around the corner in Union County!

The Union County Literacy Council is looking for 20 teams from area businesses that would like to spell their way to a championship and help fight illiteracy along the way.

The Bee is scheduled for Thursday May 1, 2008 at the First Baptist Church in Monroe and will have door prizes, music, a huge bee and fun-spirited competition.

Each team can include up to three adults who work for or are members of the organization they are representing. The cost to enter a team is $300. All proceeds will benefit the Literacy Council of Union County. For more information or to register please call the Union County Literacy Council at (704) 226-1425. Can you BEE all you can BEE?

NC Research Campus Update

Find Out the Latest from One of the Most Happening Places in Our Region

MURDOCK Study Starting Soon
Duke University has announced that it expects to start recruiting patients for the MURDOCK Study by July 1, 2008. Researchers at Duke have begun testing biological samples already collected and formulating hypotheses for studies, focusing on osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, obesity and weight loss, and hepatitis.

When the Core Research Laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus opens in July the Study will move to Kannapolis.

The study will be conducted in phases, called horizons, and will be made up of projects with specific goals to meet. The first horizon should last between one to two years and within five years the researchers hope to have a solid foundation of new discoveries to base the longitudinal study and possibly clinical trials for new treatments on.

Research Campus Gains Federal Attention
In the past two years federal officials have visited the North Carolina Research Campus to see what is being built in downtown Kannapolis. Because of this, leaders with Castle & Cooke North Carolina and the UNC System are working to get the federal government to have a presence on the campus.

Congressman Robin Hayes has had talks centering around convincing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to locate a nutrition lab at the campus. This request would require a new appropriation from Congress to construct a new building, set up a research lab and hire new researches and staff for the lab.

With more and more Colleges and Universities considering moving a location to the Campus, including Davidson College and Appalachian State University, a governmental presence on the campus would make the Campus even more of a leader.

Murdock Research Institute Names Board
The Murdock Research Institute has recently named their Board of Directors.

Their first call to duty will be to determine how to spend about $20 million on world-class equipment for the Core Lab, the centerpiece of the NC Research Campus. This will outfit about 30 percent of the Core Lab and will rely heavily on requests submitted last year by the seven universities with a presence on the campus.

The Board of Directors are David Murdock, Dr. Andrew Conrad, Dr. Steve Leath, Dr. Steven Lommel, Dr. Tony Waldrop, Dr. Victor Dzau, Dr. Robert Califf, and Dr. Nancy Andrews.

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.

There's a JobLink Near You!

There are eight JobLink Career Centers in the Centralina region dedicated to serving businesses and career seekers. We do this by staying connected in the community and understanding what businesses need, and providing services and resources to help career seekers achieve success. For more information on Centralina region JobLink Career Centers, click here.

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 Clamp at eclamp@centralina.org. If you are new to the newsletter and would like to see our previous issues please visit them at www.centralinaworks.com. We thank you in advance for your feedback and your assistance in our rebranding process!


Brittany McGregor, Finalist in North Carolina Teaching Fellow Regional Competition

Brittany McGregor, a senior at Anson High School, was chosen as regional finalist for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program Award. Over 2,100 high school seniors across the state applied for his award. Only 850 made it to the second round.

The Teaching Fellows program provides a $6,500 per year scholarship for each of four years, to 500 outstanding North Carolina High School seniors. Recipients must be legal residents of North Carolina for tuition purposes. Upon acceptance of the scholarship, the student agrees to teach for four years following graduation from college, in one of North Carolina’s public schools or United States Government Schools. If the recipient fails to repay the scholarship through service, the student must repay the loan to the state with a 10% interest rate.

In the fall, Brittany plans to attend the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and major in Elementary Education.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud of Brittany and encourages her to achieve all of her dreams! The Board and the Council are strong partners with Anson County Schools and are happy to see another positive youth in our region accomplishing great things! Way to go Brittany! For more information on the Centralina WDB Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.

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Union County Schools Program Aims to Minimize Communication Barriers Between Teachers, Parents & Students

Union County Public Schools (UCPS) recently received a generous donation from IBM that will enable stronger communication between the school system and Latino parents.

Reading Companion is one of two programs that aids in breaking down communication barriers by using a “speech recognition” technology that allows the speaker to receive individualized feedback that will help with pronunciation as students acquire fundamental reading skills. Teachers will be able to track statistical data that will keep them informed on areas that need additional attention.

ITrad?celoAhora! Is a program that automatically translates English text to Spanish text and vice versa in web pages and emails, allowing parents to better communicate with teachers.

“Communication is the key to having partners as our parents” said UCPS Superintendent Ed Davis. “Parents who do not have access to computers at home are welcome to use the School’s software.”

IBM Research developed the web based technology that aims to improve English literacy skills for all students. The Pilot Program will be unveiled at East Elementary and Monroe Middle Schools first; but the program has the potential to be placed in schools across the district. East Elementary Schools’ current Latin population is 60 percent, while Monroe Middle School has a Latin population of 42 percent.

The two schools were targeted for the IBM grants by Waxhaw resident and IBM Global Engineering Solutions employee Kyle Hilligoss.

“We hope to bring assets from IBM to help address some of the changes in the classroom in terms of language requirements,” Hilligoss said.

The IBM grant program is in its fourth year and currently has supported efforts in over 300 organizations in the United States and Latin America. For more information please contact Kyle Hilligoss at kyle@us.ibm.com.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud to be partners with the Union County Public Schools and are excited to see schools embracing technology to reach the future workforce of tomorrow. The Board and Youth Council are strong partners with all of the public school systems in the region. For more information on the Centralina WDB Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.

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Cabarrus Literacy Council Spearheads New Peer Tutoring Program

As reported in the January 2008 edition of the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter, Work Connect, a new effort organized by the Cabarrus Literacy Council to begin a peer tutoring program at A.L. Brown High School in Cabarrus County started in December of 2007. This groundbreaking program has now been expanded to Concord High School. On February 11, 2008 school administrators handpicked the students chosen to serve as tutors through the school’s Student Ambassador Society.

The goal of the program is reach 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.

One in four American born Cabarrus County residents are functionally illiterate, according to Katrina Duke, Executive Director of the Cabarrus County Literacy Council. She hopes to see the program expand across the school district.

The program has been getting more attention with a kickoff event being held that featured the testimony from Concord Mayor Scott Padgett, Police Chief Merl Hamilton and other community and school leaders.

Mayor Padgett stated that he was once a poor student until he found mentors who motivated him to do more in school. He made a donation of $300 to the program that was raised through the mayor’s golf tournament.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board supports and partners with organizations like the Cabarrus Literacy Council to help prepare the youth of today for the jobs of tomorrow. For more information on the student tutoring program please contact Katrina Duke at (704) 786-7323. For more information the Centralina Workforce Development Board Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.

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Iredell-Statesville Schools Moves to Enhance Technology Programs in Classrooms

A $250,000 grant from Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation will make it possible for Iredell-Statesville Schools to access the latest technology in classrooms across the district.

The School System will match 100% of the grant and use the monies to fund innovative technology- based pilot programs in 300 classrooms. The School System expects the programs’ outcomes will determine whether certain technology enhances student achievement.

Lowe’s spokeswoman Maureen Rich knows how important it is for these schools to have upgraded state of the art technology. "The Lowe’s Foundation is thrilled to be able to make this contribution” she said.

Iredell Statesville School System has already equipped classrooms with SmartBoards, iPods, Macbooks, Senteos, and an Apple studio for digital media productions in recent years.

“The new technology and innovative toys increase student engagement and they’re more apt to pay attention in the classroom” said ISS spokeswoman Dawn Creason.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud partners with Iredell-Statesville Schools and can’t wait to see all the new and innovative programs that will be created from this grant. For more information the Centralina Workforce Development Board Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.


 

  

What's Happening in the Region?

Comings, Goings, Kudos…

 
  • Lori Montgomery has been named Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce’s new membership services representative. She is a native of Lincolnton and migrated back to the area after living in Charleston and in Japan. Montgomery began her position on February 4, 2008. We look forward to working with you Lori!
  
  • Dr. Richard Brownell, President of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) has received a lifetime achievement award from the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber honored Dr. Brownell for his 30 years of community service and leadership as RCCC’s president and overall record of leadership extending more than 55 years. Congratulations Dr. Brownell!
     
  • Tom Connelly, Dean of Academic and Student Services at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, has announced his retirement effective May 31, 2008. Connelly has worked 38 years in high education, including 23 years at Western Carolina University. We wish you well Tom, you will be missed!
  
  • Anita Brown, chancellor of Cabarrus College of Health Sciences was recently honored by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce with the Lifetime Achievement Award for citizenship and service. Brown has been lead administrator at Cabarrus College since 1979 and chancellor since 1994. Congratulations Anita!
     
  • The Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation received a 2007 Award of Excellence in Biotechnology from Expansion Solutions Magazine. It was recognized for its work helping to bring the North Carolina Research Campus to Kannapolis. Way to go!

  • The Union County Partnership for Progress received a 2007 Award of Excellence in Aerospace from Expansion Solutions Magazine for its role in helping ATI Allvac expand in Monroe. ATI Allvac was also awarded the Incumbent Worker Grant through the Centralina Workforce Development Board. What a great example of retraining workers to continue to make the region grow and expand!

  • Linda Gaye has been named Acting Director of the Union County Department of Social Services, effective March 1. Linda is an active member of the Union County JobLink Career Center Management Team. Linda will serve as acting director until a new director is hired. Congratulations Linda!

  • A.L. Brown High School has received the Lighthouse Award from the North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. It was honored for its excellence and innovation, as well as having among the highest physical science scores in North Carolina consistently. Way to go!

  • Robert J. Carney, a Hickory native and East Carolina University graduate who previously managed a business marketing magazine in Miami, will be charged with maintaining and promoting the existing industries in southern Iredell and developing an annual marketing plan for the Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corporation. We look forward to working with you Robert!

• Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting
Tuesday March 11, 2008 – 4:30 PM
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce – Kannapolis

• Centralina WDB Community Relations Committee meeting
Thursday March 6, 2008 – 12:30 PM
Conference Call

• Centralina WDB Youth Council Meeting
Thursday March 20, 2008 – 10:00 AM
Boys & Girls Club – Concord

• College Tech Prep Professional Development Conference
Monday March 3, 2008 – Wednesday March 5, 2008
Koury Convention Center – Greensboro, NC
Register: http//:www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/Tech_Prep/index.html

• Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Job Fair
Monday March 10, 2008
Hours and Locations: 9:30-11:30 AM - RCCC’s North Campus, Building 100 – Salisbury and 1:00-2:30 PM - RCCC’s South Campus - 1000 Building- Concord
For more information, please visit www.rowancabarrus.edu/jobfair/

• Business Show and Business After Hours for Statesville
Thursday March 13, 2008 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (open to public) 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Chamber members only)
Statesville Civic Center – Statesville
Contact: Cathy Morris 704.873.2892

• Career Fair/Job Expo for High School Students
Wednesday March 19, 2008
East Rowan & Salisbury High Schools – 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
North Rowan & West Rowan High Schools – 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
Carson, Henderson & South Rowan High Schools – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Rowan-Cabarrus Community College – Jack Alexander Blvd. in Sallisbury

• Life Sciences in the Charlotte Region: What’s in it for Me?
Monday March 31, 2008 – 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Harris Conference Center – Charlotte
For more information: info@biobusinesshub.net

• Embracing Transition
Thursday April 10, 2008
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM (morning session) 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM (evening session)
South Piedmont Community College – Old Charlotte Hwy. Conference Center
Information: For 11th & 12th Grade Students with Disabilities
Contact: Emily Clamp at 704.348.2732 or by email at eclamp@centralina.org

• 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

Job Seekers…Who Happen to Have a Criminal Record
Wednesday March 12, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: The Workforce Development Training Center - Raleigh
Fee: $45.00
Contact: email Martha Barefoot at mbarefoot@nccommerce.com

Engaging & Retaining Older Youth in WIA Programs
Thursday March 13, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: The Workforce Development Training Center - Raleigh
Fee: $55.00
Contact: email Martha Barefoot at mbarefoot@nccommerce.com

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

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