In
an effort to reach out to more people, Centralina Workforce Development
Board Executive Director David Hollars along with
Jeanie Moore, Dr. Nicholas Gennett and
Keri Allman-Young from Rowan-Cabarrus Community
College presented the Re-employment Bridge Institute concept to
the North Carolina Commission on Workforce Development at their
February 17, 2010 meeting in Raleigh. The presentation was well
received by members of the Commission.
At the end of the fair, youth took part in a “Dress for Success” fashion show. |
Photo above article: Partners from South Piedmont Community College also participated in the Career Fair. |
A New Space and New Projects
Multicultural Center of Hope Opens New Location in Lincolnton
The Multicultural Center of Hope has moved from a 600 square-foot building to a 1,800 square-foot building across the street on Vandiver Drive in Lincolnton. With the triple the space, the center will be kicking off three new programs – language classes, a youth group and a community garden.
“I’m nervous because of what it implies – the big jump into all these projects that we’ll be starting simultaneously,” Enrique Fuentes, the Center’s director said. “It’s a challenge, but I’m so excited about this.”
The Multicultural Center, a Lincoln County JobLink Career Center Partner, has been open for five years and is funded by the C. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Duke Endowment Foundation, and the Gastonia District of the United Methodist Church.
The Center’s new building has four classrooms. Basic, intermediate and advanced language classes will be offered in them. Completing the courses will be the equivalent of completing three years studying language in college. Classes are expected to start sometime in March. A groundbreaking for the center’s community garden is set for Sunday March 21, 2010.
The
community garden will be down the street from the center. It will
be divided into plots and could become as big as a football field.
The Lincoln County Cooperative Extension will be assisting in the
community garden. Plots will be large enough to meet 80 percent
of a family’s vegetable needs.
The Center’s final new endeavor, a youth group, will begin sometime in the summer.
Lincoln County teenagers are already attending a youth group at Centro Latino in Hickory. Fuentes plans for them to start meeting in Lincolnton. The group will be filled with college-bound students. “They will have all the support they need – tutoring, looking for scholarships, everything,” Fuentes said.
While taking on all these new projects, the Center will also continue to do the work it has done for the past five years – providing help for immigrants in everything from referrals to translation.
“We are a service center,” Fuentes said. “That’s the main role in the community to help the Hispanics and other immigrants in the community.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Lincoln County JobLink Career Center are strong partners with the Multicultural Center of Hope and looks forward to the great results these projects will bring to the community and the region. For more information on the Center or to sign up for classes or a community garden plot, please call (704) 748-1218. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board or the Lincoln County JobLink Career Center, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
Enrique Fuentes, director of the Multicultural Center of Hope in Lincolnton, talks about a plot of land near Vandiver Drive that will be a community garden later this year. |
Retrain, Refocus and Reemploy on the Move!R3 Career Center Moves into Visitors Center Near Research Campus in KannapolisThe N.C. Research Campus has leased the downtown Visitors Center building in Kannapolis to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. RCCC's R3 Career Center is moving into the building in the former Cannon Village and plans to open for business officially on Monday March 1, 2010.
"We are very excited," R3 Center director Keri Allman-Young said. "We think that this will be a wonderful move not only for our clients but for downtown Kannapolis." Castle & Cooke North Carolina, developer for the Research Campus, closed the Visitors Center one year ago and had planned to do extensive renovations to better showcase the center's collection of textile artifacts and NASCAR memorabilia, as well as the city's newest industry, biotechnology. Dole Food Co. chairman and Castle & Cooke owner David Murdock built the biotech Research Campus in Kannapolis, which is the birthplace of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt and once was home to the world's leading manufacturer of textiles. The artifacts and memorabilia remain in the building. Allman-Young said they add to the mission of the R3 center. "It's such a good fit for us to be in this space, to not only carry the message of the past but carry message of future," she said. The addition of the R3 Center "can only be a positive for merchants in the Village, and it creates more traffic on the street," Castle & Cooke marketing director Phyllis Beaver said. R3 staff members are "protective and proud" of the heritage of both Kannapolis and their clientele, which includes many former textile workers, Allman-Young said. The R3 Center has seen an increase in foot traffic by moving downtown, Allman-Young said. And we're not even officially open yet," she said.
The new location, which includes a 100-seat auditorium with a sound system, provides more opportunity for larger gatherings, Moore said. By moving downtown, the center also wants to "help local citizens find a connection to the Research Campus," she said. RCCC will have a second location at the Research Campus when the college moves into a $26 million state-of-the-art biotech training facility this summer. The new building will consist of laboratories and classrooms. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a strong partner with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the R3 Career Center. The Board congratulates them on this move and wishes them continued success within the community. For more information on the R3 Career Center or the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org. |
The
R3 Center, which employs five full-time and four to six part-time
people, has about 500 visits from clients per month, including
individual career counseling and group workshops. Since opening
in 2007, the center has served more than 4,300 clients, said
Jeanie Moore, RCCC vice president for continuing
and corporate education.The Mouse is Back!
Disney Institute Returns to South Piedmont Community College
It’s
that time again! Disney time! That’s right; the
Disney Institute is coming back to South
Piedmont Community College for one day only on Thursday
April 29, 2010. The Centralina
Workforce Development Board is proud to once again
be a co-sponsor of this great professional development event.
South
Piedmont Community College is bringing the region the premier one-day
program to energize your employees with leadership management and
service skills.
The program will cover 2 important and very relevant topics for today’s business climate - Leadership - Disney Style and Customer Service - Disney Style. In each of these sessions you will learn how to communicate a compelling vision, build involvement and ownership, develop a service philosophy and learn tools to support a service culture.
Don’t miss this great session! The event will start at 8:00 AM at the Old Charlotte Highway Campus in Monroe. To register or for more information please call Geri Duncan at (704) 290-5221.
|
|
The
third group, partnering for creative leadership, aims to get
a more diverse group of people participating in economic development
activities. Rywak chaired this discussion group, which focused
on making the Chamber a central resource for new and existing
businesses in town.
Shumaker
said Kewaunee invested $50 million in the past couple of years
for new equipment to keep its three Statesville manufacturing
sites and two distribution centers running smoothly. The investment
has helped Kewaunee remain competitive and keep jobs in Statesville,
he said.William Shumaker, president and CEO of Kewaunee Scientific, announces that the company will expand its Statesville manufacturing facilities. Seated beside Shumaker are Bill Leach, chairman of the Greater Statesville Development commission and Beth Phillips, vice-president of human resources at Kewaunee Scientific. |
Spantek Celebrates its Move to Lincolnton
Spantek Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony to Open New Facility
Spantek,
a certified metal manufacturer, kicked off its move to Lincolnton
with a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by the
Lincoln Economic Development Association.
The event was held at the facility, located in the former
RSI Marble building off North General’s Boulevard.
Headquartered in Hopkins, Minn., Spantek designs and manufactures custom-sized expanded metal coils and blanks for original equipment manufacturers. The company moved its North Carolina facility from Greensboro to Lincolnton to better serve clients, and hopefully, develop new clients throughout the east and southeast corridor.
“After looking at five counties within the Charlotte region and four different facilities, we decided that Lincolnton was by far the most helpful, and would be the most rewarding for us,” said Spantek President Rod Miller.
“This is a great community and we are proud to be part of it now. It goes without saying, the employees of Spantek are the ones that make it all happen and we appreciate each one.”
Lincolnton Mayor John Gilleland was pleased to have Spantek come to town. “We look forward to the growth of their business and the creation of jobs,” he said. “I am sure they will find Lincolnton a great place to do business and we welcome them here.”
Spantek has previously announced plans to employ 15 at the Lincolnton site, with an eventual growth to 25 workers over the next year and a half.
For more information about this exciting development, please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly newsletter.
City Councilman Fred Houser (left) and Mayor John Gilleland Jr. join Spantek president Rod Miller and CFO Brian Beich and Lincoln Economic Development Association board member Tom Anderson as the celebrate the Lincolnton Spantek plant’s opening last week with a ribbon cutting. |
Things Are Really Taking Off!
Concord Regional Airport to Get Upgrades
Concord City Council approved improvements at the Concord Regional Airport, including a new fuel tank that city officials say will enhance business at the airport.
Council
voted unanimously on Thursday February 11, 2010 to award a
bid for a 15,000-gallon fuel tank to Superior
Industrial Maintenance Company Inc. from Harrisburg,
in the amount of $217,450.
Members also approved a 30-year lease agreement with VS Management, which will complete a 16,250-foot hangar as part of the agreement.
Council also approved the Transportation Improvement Plan for the airport, which will be submitted to the N.C. Department of Aviation.
The new fuel tank is part of modifications to the Airport Fuel Farm, Assistant City Manager Jim Hipp said. The existing fuel tank is 15 years old and has leaky valves, Hipp told council members on Thursday.
"We're bringing it up to what I feel is going to be better than what it was when it was installed," Hipp said.
Superior Industrial Maintenance Company is local, which means they can get to the airport more quickly for maintenance on the tank, he said.
The city held a public hearing on the lease with VS Management. The council unanimously adopted the lease agreement. The hangar on the site has been mostly built by J.M. Lambert Construction at their expense and then offered for sale to VS Management. The new owner will finish the hangar and enlarge the door to accommodate larger aircraft.
The lease starts Monday March 1, 2010 and will last until Feb. 29, 2040. VS Management will have the option to extend the lease for one to 10 years with the same terms except rent, which would be increased by 25 percent.
The
$47.4 million Transportation Improvement Plan for Concord
Regional Airport that was also approved at the meeting includes
several proposed improvements suggested for fiscal year 2011
to fiscal year 2015. The information will be passed on by
the Department of Aviation to the Federal Aviation Administration
for funding consideration.
The first year fiscal year 2011 portion of the plan includes projects to overlay the apron, design a replacement Air Traffic Control Tower, land acquisition and reimbursement, planning and design for terminal expansion, a maintenance storage facility, hangar office addition, a parking deck and to begin the terminal expansion.
Concord officials are applying for federal and state grants
to help pay for the projects.
Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development
Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting
development in our region!
Rowan County Business Reopening
W.A. Brown and Son Open Their Doors Again With 20 Jobs
W.A. Brown and Son has entered into a partnership that will allow the century-old company to reopen after shutting down in November 2009, company officials said this month. W.A. Brown, which makes walk-in coolers and freezers, reached an agreement with Southern Stainless Equipment Co. of Waynesboro, Va.
Paul Brown, Vice-President and CEO of W.A. Brown and Son, said sales will begin in February and manufacturing will follow. Brown said that for now, W.A. Brown will employ approximately 20 people. When the company closed, it laid off nearly 100 employees.
"We will start production in a very controlled mode," Brown said, noting that growth will be driven only by customers' needs.
W.A.
Brown and Son walk-in coolers and freezers have been used
in Las Vegas casinos, the stadium at the 2004 Atlanta Olympic
Games and other major venues across the United States.
Southern States Equipment Co. has been in the industry since 1956, and, according to Brown, has a "common interest for growth within the industry and continued manufacturing and sale of quality products to all customers."
W.A. Brown will be contacting customers who ordered products built to certain specifications in the past and will be participating in future bid processes. "We're trying to capture all that is available to us," Brown said.
Brown said that over time, the new partnership will allow the company to offer more products to more customers.
Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development in our region!
Lights, Camera, Action!
Economic Developers Can See a Future in Film for Lincoln County
The
Lincoln Economic Development
Association (LEDA) is trying to attract moviemakers
to Lincoln County. This month, the nonprofit organization
launched a film section on its Web site. The site is filled
with hundreds of photographs of potential movie sites in the
county.
The
project stemmed partially from work done by Shelley
Stevens, who interned with LEDA last summer. She
updated a catalog of Lincoln County movie sites for Charlotte
Regional Partnership’s Film Commission,
which recruits film production companies.
Mitch Miller, business development coordinator for LEDA, decided to expand on the work Stevens started. He contacted local photographer David Hopkins after stumbling upon his pictures on Flickr.com. Hopkins allowed Miller to post many of his pictures on LEDA’s film section. Hopkins, a teacher at Maiden High School, will also be taking more pictures to add to the film section.
“David has been extremely helpful,” Miller said. “He has worked hand-in-hand with us to promote Lincoln County. He has helped us at no cost so that was a big benefit for us.”
Lincoln County definitely has many spots that would work well for film production companies, Hopkins said.
“You’ve
got downtown Lincolnton, the courthouse and a lot of older
buildings if they want that small-town feel,” he said.
“I think any way we can promote the area is beneficial
and LEDA is doing that.”
LEDA has plenty of photos from the western portion of the county, but could use more shots from the eastern area. People are welcome to send any of their photos to Miller for review, and possible publication to the site.
“What we want to do is to continue to build our database,” Miller said. “We know there are unique things out there. I’ve lived in Lincoln County all my life and to see some of these photos … I never knew these places were here in Lincoln County.”
Almost two years ago, a film production company considered filming in Lincoln County, but ended up choosing Shelby instead.
The movie Blood Done Sign My Name, set to be released this year, called for specific types and colors of structures that Lincoln County simply did not have. But Miller is confident that other moviemakers will come through Lincoln County looking for unique sites that, perhaps, the other cities can’t offer.
“You’ve got million-dollar homes to working farms,” he said. “We aren’t Charlotte. We don’t have skyscrapers or the busy life, but if you think of film (needing) a different setting, I think we’ve got a lot (moviemakers) can benefit from. I think the biggest start of all is letting people know what’s out there.”
To learn more about film opportunities in Lincoln County, visit www.lincolneda.org. You can also contact Mitch Miller at 704-732-151l or mitch@lincolneda.org.
Scenes like this one on the South Fork River near Lincolnton are what makes Lincoln County a potential untapped gold mine for film crews seeking shooting locations, according to economic developers. |
Local Community Colleges Honored by Charlotte Regional Partnership
Colleges to Receive Jerry Awards
Ten
local community colleges have won an economic development
award from the Charlotte
Regional Partnership. The colleges will be honored
on Tuesday May 25, 2010 with the Partnership’s Jerry
Awards for work in the public sector. US
Airways won the private-sector award.
The ten local community colleges are Mitchell Community College (Iredell County), Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Stanly Community College, South Piedmont Community College (Anson and Union counties), Gaston College (Gaston and Lincoln counties), Catawba Valley Community College, Central Piedmont Community College, Cleveland Community College, Northeastern Technical College (Chesterfield County), and York Technical College.
The Jerry Awards are named in honor of the first recipients in 2007 — Jerry Richardson, owner and founder of the Carolina Panthers, and Jerry Orr, aviation director for the City of Charlotte.
The community colleges were chosen for their work in training the region's workforce. The Partnership called the colleges "invaluable business recruitment tools."
"Our
regional community and technical colleges give us a competitive
advantage as we meet and talk with advisors and corporations
that are making decisions about where to expand, consolidate
or relocate their companies," Ronnie Bryant,
president and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, said
in a prepared statement.
The 2010 Jerry Awards recipients will be honored during the partnership's annual awards luncheon at the Charlotte Convention Center on May 25, 2010.
For event or table sponsorship information, contact Clay Andrews at candrews@charlotteusa.com or 704-347-8026.
Calling All Businesses: Centralina WDB Needs Your Input!
Survey Seeks Information on How We Can Help Your Business
The Centralina Workforce Development Board needs your help! Many of the ideas for complimentary services we deliver came from employers like you. As a result, the Centralina Workforce Development Board has been able to respond to real needs of the business community as we continue to be customer driven. As the lead workforce development and delivery agency in your area, our planning has allowed us to focus resources where they are needed.
So, please CLICK HERE to complete a SHORT survey and share how we can best serve your business. An investment of 3-4 minutes to get your input is extremely valuable to us. As a thank you, your name will be entered into our monthly drawing for a special gift from the Centralina WDB.
The few minutes you share with us gives back to your community as well as your business. If you have any questions about the survey or would like to give more input, please contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 or by e-mail at vcarter@centralina.org.
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 the Stanly County Airport in New London, NC (Stanly County). David Griffin of the Stanly County Airport completed and submitted the survey. We thank David for helping us with our continuous improvement feedback process! For more information about the Stanly County Airport please visit their site at www.stanlycountyairport.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.
Let Us Train Your Workforce on Our Dime!
Centralina WDB Accepting Incumbent Worker Training Applications
The Incumbent Worker Training Program offered through the Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) is designed to upgrade employees' skills and increase competitiveness of companies in the global marketplace. It is a great way to improve the skills and capabilities of your workforce so that they are even more productive now and are ready for the challenges of the future.
The program has undergone some changes for this round of applications. A new application and supporting documents have been released. All forms can be found on the Centralina Workforce Development Board website (www.centralinaworks.com). Please be sure to use the new documents for your submission.
The deadline to get in your submission to the Centralina Workforce Development Board is Friday April 16, 2010. This will be the final round of applications for this fiscal year.
If you are interested in applying but have questions about the program and the forms, or would just like some assistance in preparing your application, the Centralina WDB is offering a workshop to all businesses interested in applying. The workshop will be held on Thursday March 4, 2010 at 9:30 AM at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College at their South Campus Community Room (#106). The campus is located near exit #55 on I-85 South in Concord.
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 new Incumbent Worker guidelines and application, please visit the Centralina WDB website or contact Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator at (704) 348-2710 or by email at vcarter@centralina.org.
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 April 16, 2010. So don’t delay, submit your application today!
Business Link-Up!
Area Business Leaders Come Together to Learn About Opportunities
On February 9, 2010, the Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corporation along with the Centralina Economic Development Commission sponsored an event at the Charles Mack Citizens Center in Mooresville that brought business leaders from around the region together to learn about tools to support existing businesses as they face a tougher credit environment and tight markets.
Several presentations were given by representatives of state and local agencies including financial institutions. Participants learned how they can tap into lending sources and grants to help them grow and expand their business.
Vail
Carter, Business Services Coordinator with the Centralina Workforce
Development Board shared information about the Incumbent
Workforce Development Program grants and participated in a panel
discussion with a representative of the N.C. Military Business Center
and The Small Business Technology Development Center. In case you
missed the event, here is a link to the presentations: Link-Up
Financing, Support Services and Grants for Small Business Development.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to partner with the Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corporation to further the goals of workforce development an economic development. For more information on the business services offered by the Centralina WDB, please contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 or vcarter@centralina.org.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is in YOUR Community!
During the month of February 2010, the Centralina Workforce Development Board has been actively involved with events, seminars, training sessions, and other meetings all designed to help build a better workforce for our region. Beyond our involvement with the Anson County Career Fair, the Re-employment Bridge Institute, and Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council’s Youth Summit, here are some the activities of the Board members and WDB staff for February:
Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting - held on Tuesday February 9 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. At the request of the Board’s Executive Planning and Business Performance committees, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator Vail Carter presented a Business Intelligence Update with data on growing and declining industries and the local labor force, and Vail’s observations on economic recovery in the region. This informative presentation can be accessed via the Board’s website.
The Board reviewed the National Association of State Workforce Board Chair’s priorities and talking points regarding the reauthorization by Congress of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and discussed possible implications for the region. Board members also discussed the changes to the Incumbent Worker program and the new due date for applications, received an update on the Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership, received a calendar dates for the upcoming Allied Health Career Connection fairs, reviewed a report on the Faith-Based Job Resources luncheon held in January, received the latest local labor market information and the JobLink Career Center quarterly report for the period ending December 31, 2009, and updates on other key workforce issues and recent presentations in the region.
Centralina WDB JobLink Career Center Managers meeting – held on Tuesday December 8 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. Managers discussed staff JobLink rechartering, use of enhancement funds, professional development training, and upcoming Allied Health Career Connections events. Meeting was conducted by Janet Hudson, Centralina WDB vice-chair and staffed by Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars.
Centralina WDB Workforce Readiness Committee meeting – held on Friday February 12 at Smart Start offices in Monroe. Centralina WDB member Mary Ann Rasberry chaired the meeting. David Hollars and Emily Clamp attended this meeting and provide staff support. Committee worked on development of local literacy summits.
Rotary Club of Cabarrus County presentation - on Thursday February 25 at Cabarrus Family Medicine Center in Concord. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars presented highlights from the State of the Workforce Study update for 2009 and the role of the Centralina WDB in building a competitive workforce for Cabarrus County and the region.
Union County JobReady Partnership meeting – held on Thursday February 18 at Union County Schools Professional Development Center in Monroe. David Hollars attended this meeting.
Union County Transition Fair planning meeting - held on Monday February 8 in Monroe. Centralina WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender participated in this planning meeting for the May event in which the Centralina WDB is a sponsor.
Monroe Economic Development Commission meeting - held on Thursday February 25 at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport in Monroe. Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator Vail Carter attended this meeting and presented information on changes to the Incumbent Worker program.
Career & Technical Education – Marketing Committee meeting – held on Friday February 19. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director participated in this meeting. The committee is developing marketing materials and a promotion schedule for making more people aware of the importance of career and technical education.
NC Department of Public Career and Technical Education Administrative Internship Program conference – held on Thursday February 25 in Winston-Salem. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director served as a panelist at the conference and provided insight on the Centralina WDB’s partnerships local career and technical education programs in local school systems and the community.
NC Youth Summit Planning committee meeting – held on Friday February 12 in Durham, Centralina WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender participated in this meeting to develop agenda, topics, and speakers for the April 23-24 summit in Greensboro.
NC Workforce Leadership Academy – Learning Network meeting – held on Tuesday February 23 and Wednesday February 24 in Durham. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director participated in this meeting which focused on use of social networking tools for workforce development and examining return on investment models. The Learning Network is for workforce professionals who are graduates of the NC Workforce Leadership Academy.
NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Development meeting – held on Thursday February 4 at NC Workforce Development Training Center in Raleigh. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director participated in this meeting with Commerce officials to review the new Incumbent Worker guidelines, discuss USDOL waivers, and 2010-2011 budgets.
NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Development Equal Opportunity monitoring visit – conducted by Mose Dorsey on Wednesday February 16 and Thursday February 17. Centralina WDB Operations Manager Patricia White assisted Mr. Dorsey.
Competitive Workforce Alliance – Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership – Career Connections event – held on Friday February 12 at Gaston College – Lincoln Campus in Lincolnton. Centralina WDB staff and The McLynn Group, Allied Health consultants, provide information and handouts for the event.
State of the Workforce – 2009 update presentation – held on February 16 in Dallas. Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative participated in this event hosted by the Gaston Workforce Development Board.
Charlotte Regional Economic & Workforce Recovery Initiative Team meeting – held on Wednesday February 3 at CPCC Harris Conference Center. This group is implementing plans and strategies to address the current and anticipated layoffs from the financial service sector businesses in the Charlotte region, as requested by Governor Beverly Perdue. Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative participated in this meeting and provided an update on specific solutions for the faith-based/community-based connections, including submitting a report on Faith-Based Job Support event held on January 27. Also prepared and submitted an EMSI Occupational Report for the group.
PY 2009 Annual Workforce Investment Act (WIA) monitoring of Adult and Dislocated Worker and Youth services – conducted by Patricia White, Centralina WDB Operations Manager with Salisbury-Rowan Community Action agency – Youth services contractor for Rowan and Cabarrus counties on February 23 and 24 in Salisbury.
Workforce Business Development and Assistance – provided by Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative for the following area companies:
- Met with Beth Abernathy, Human Resources Manager at Zimmer Orthopedic
in Statesville (Iredell County) – Business Development visit
– January 5
- Participated in Rapid Response Meeting with management of Haldex
Hydraulics Corporation in Statesville (Iredell County) - February
2.
- Compiled data from Employee Surveys and submitted information
to company management and to key JobLink Partners on February3.
Prepared a list of over 300 business prospects for a possible
Job Fair. Referred two companies to Haldex for possible hires.
- Performed mid-point Incumbent Worker contract monitoring visit
with Gaylor Electrical Contractors in Mooresville (Iredell County)
– February 9.
- Performed mid-point Incumbent Worker contract monitoring visit
with Safety Solutions in Mooresville (Iredell County ) –
February 9.
- Participated in Palm Harbor Homes Rapid Response meeting with
company management team in Albemarle (Stanly County) – February
11. Prepared list of prospects for company Job Fair. Compiled
data from employee surveys and distributed to company management
and the Stanly County JobLink manager on February 12.
- Met with Linda Overcash of Spectrum Financial Services in Mooresville
(Iredell County) to discuss the application process for the Incumbent
Workforce Development Program – February 18.
- Performed mid-point Incumbent Worker contract monitoring visit
with Yates Performance Engines in Mooresville (Iredell County
) – February 18.
- Met with Charity Pitman, Assistant Director of Lake Norman
Regional Economic Development Corporation to discuss collaboration
and Incumbent Worker referrals – February 18.
- Performed mid-point Incumbent Worker contract monitoring visit
at Maxon Furniture in Salisbury (Rowan County) – February
22.
- Met with Ms. Lucy Ancheta at Salisbury-Rowan Community Action
Agency to deliver SHARE Network resources and discuss data collection
for quarterly reports – Salisbury (Rowan County) –
February 22.
- Met with Debra Dixon of Charlotte/Mecklenburg Workforce Development
Board and Rev. Glencie of First Baptist Church West to finalize
plans for opening a new Share Network Access Point site –
February 24.
- Performed final Incumbent Worker contract monitoring visit
with deBotech in Mooresville (Iredell County) – February
24.
- Preformed final Incumbent Worker contract monitoring visit with Stanly Fixtures in Norwood (Stanly County) – February 26.
These are only a few examples of how your Centralina Workforce Development Board is actively involved with our partners in our counties every month. To find out more about getting involved with the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org or visit our website at www.centralinaworks.com. The Centralina Workforce Development – The Competitive Force in Our Global Economy.
Outstanding Training in Mooresville
NASCAR Technical Institute Receives Prestigious Industry Award
Mooresville’s
NASCAR Technical Institute
(NTI) was honored by the North
Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) for outstanding
achievement during 2009 at its fourth annual Industry Awards ceremony
held on Monday January 25, 2009 in Concord.
The school, which offers automotive technology training combined NASCAR-specific courses, was saluted for placing 1,300 graduates in motorsports industry jobs since its inception in 2002, as well as logging 13,000 student volunteer hours within the local community in 2009.
“The strong relationships we have within racing and the industry enhances the training experience we offer students and increases employment opportunities for graduates,” said John Dodson, NTI’s director of Community and NASCAR Relations.
“We are also proud of our students for embracing the needs of the community and volunteering to help make a difference.”
NASCAR Tech was one of nine industry-wide organizations to receive an award at the ceremony.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with the NASCAR Technical Institute and congratulates them on receiving this wonderful honor! For more information on the NASCAR Technical Institute or the Centralina Workforce Development Board, you can contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
Connecting Local Businesses and NC Research Campus
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Launches Business Connector
Local small business owners have a new, free tool to promote their goods and services to potential customers at the NC Research Campus.
A new website called Business Connector is a buy-local initiative sponsored by the Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Business Connector is aimed at making it easier for newcomers and others at the Research Campus to find local vendors.
“Local small business owners are very excited about this initiative,” said Barbara Hall, director of the Small Business Center. “We know the Research Campus will eventually generate significant business activity for our entire region. We wanted to make sure our local small business owners had a seat at the table early on, in a way that’s more effective than relying on word-of-mouth.”
The password-protected site allows small business owners to input detailed information about their businesses and update it at anytime, including links to their websites. Potential purchasers at the Research Campus will have a password to search the site.
The free site is available to any business headquartered in Cabarrus or Rowan counties with fewer than 100 employees that has been in operation for at least two years. Local businesses are invited to register at www.businessconnector.net.
Approximately 50 businesses have already registered on the site, and personnel at the NC Research Campus will also have access.
“We want to help foster an environment that values small business ownership, and Business Connector is an important part of that effort,” Hall said.
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.
Partners for Progress!
NC Research Campus Hosts Visits by Potential Partners
If you want a simple explanation of what goes on at the N.C. Research Campus, listen to officials address a crowd of non-English speakers.
"We use computers to solve problems in biology," said Dr. Lawrence Mays, director of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte Bioinformatics Research Center.
"We study the relationship between nutrition and sports," said Dr. David Nieman, director of the Appalachian State University Human Performance Lab.
"We call this Disney World for scientists," said Clyde Higgs, vice president for business development for the campus.
These local leaders spoke succinctly and plainly to 40 Japanese scientists visiting from Nagoya University en route to Research Triangle Park.
Most of the guests spoke limited English, but Dr. Akihiko Watanabe called the Research Campus a "good prospect" and said his university hopes to have joint research projects with scientists in Kannapolis.
"We believe the role of universities is significant as engines of economic development," said Watanabe, a professor and director of promoting entrepreneurship.
Nagoya University is renowned for its mastery of a process called technology transfer, or moving research from the lab into the marketplace.
The Japanese scientists found a good example of collaboration between industry and academia when they toured Nieman's lab, where two pit crew members of Jimmie Johnson's NASCAR team happened to be undergoing fitness testing.
"NASCAR!" the Japanese scientists said when Nieman explained what the men do for a living.
Hendrick
Motorsports is sending pit crews to the Research Campus
to improve performance through exercise science and nutrition. Crews
for the No. 5, No. 88 and now No. 48 teams have undergone testing
in Kannapolis.
Nieman offered the scientists Q Chews, small quercetin supplements developed by ASU to prevent inflammation in athletes. Nieman, who specializes in quercetin research, said he hopes Q Chews will replace ibuprofen.
The Research Campus, a $1.5 billion life sciences complex founded by Dole Food Co. owner David Murdock, has piqued interest around the globe, Higgs said.
"There is growing recognition outside the United States that the Research Campus has resources," he said. "We're trying to push that message."
During the next 24 to 36 months, the campus will reach out to international organizations, including some in Europe, Higgs said.
One researcher in Kannapolis, Dr. Mary Ann Lila, has a burgeoning relationship with Nagoya University, where she presented research last year on plant pigmentation at an international conference.
The conference had been held in Japan, New Zealand and Australia and will move to Kannapolis in 2011.
Lila, director of the N.C. State University Plants for Human Health Institute in Kannapolis, is organizing the event.
The gathering of 300 scientists from around the world and other upcoming events should bolster support for locating "some type of hotel facility" in Kannapolis, Higgs said.
The Japanese scientists dined at Restaurant 46, where U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell spoke through an interpreter.
"If there's one thing that binds us together, it is food," Kissell said. "There is not a place you can better focus on nutrition and eating better than here at the Research Campus."
Emily
Felt, business development manager for Duke
Energy, surprised everyone by addressing the guests
in perfect Japanese. Felt said she grew up in Japan.
While not an official partner, Duke Energy supports the Research Campus because the campus is good for the economy, which in turn is good for the energy business, Felt said.
The Japanese scientists left Kannapolis for Durham, where Nagoya University hosted NU Tech 2010.
The life science, biotech and engineering conference included more than 200 business leaders and researchers.
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.
Clyde Higgs, vice president for business development at the N.C. Research Campus, discusses Tuesday's program at Restaurant 46 with Dr. Akihiko Watanabe (left) and Dr. Sayaka Ohashi, both with Nagoya University in Japan. Ohashi works at Nagoya University's office in Durham. |
Dr. David Nieman hands out Q Chews, a quercetin supplement, in his lab at the N.C. Research Campus, which 40 Japanese scientists toured Tuesday. Photo by Emily Ford |
There's a JobLink Near You!Anson County JobLink Career Center Stanly County JobLink Career Center For more information on Centralina region JobLink Career Centers, click here. Commitment to workforce excellence |
Taking on the World!Seventeen Youth Receive Their GED Diplomas from WIA Program
Through on-site classroom instruction, tutoring, leadership development sessions and comprehensive guidance and counseling sessions, youth are given the opportunity for a year-round service approach linking academic and occupational learning.
Students receiving their diplomas included: Desmound Allen, Lamar Alston, Rashad Badger, Larry Cruse, Roge Givens, Melonie Hight, Tommy Hinson, Sha’Lesa Jimenez, Portia King, Nicole Maloscay, Danielle Robinson, James Robinson, Kelli Sheehan, Kristina Stout, Avery Tilly, Jamel Tillery, and Angela Tate. The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina WDB Youth Council are strong supporters and partners of the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency. The Board and the Youth Council congratulate the youth who received their GED and wish them great success! For more information about the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, please contact Ms. Joann Diggs at (704) 633-6633. For more information on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
Centralina WDB Youth Council Update!Missed the Last Meeting? Want to Know What’s Coming Up? Read on!The Centralina WDB Youth Council welcomed Trishana Jones of the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office (YAIO), in Raleigh, as the featured speaker at their Youth Council meeting held on Thursday January 28, 2010 at the Boys & Girls Club in Concord. Trishana spoke about advocacy and other programs offered by the YAIO, such as the State Government Internship Program, Child Advocacy Services, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the Youth Legislative Assembly.
The agency seeks to enhance the quality of the lives of children and youth in the state through individual and class advocacy intervention and by offering opportunities for leadership development and experiential education. The Youth Council will meet again on Thursday March 18, 2010 at the Boys & Girls Club of Concord. Featured guests for that day will be Lisa Crawford of the Charlotte Regional Census Center and Pat Woods, Kannapolis City Schools and a Centralina WDB and Youth Council member, who will be discussing the North Carolina High School graduation requirements. Thursday March 18, 2010 also marks the day of the Boys & Girls Club of Concord’s Annual Pancake Day Fundraiser. Pancake Day, doors open at 6:00 am and close at 7:30 pm. If you would like to attend the upcoming Centralina Youth Council meeting or need more information on how to get some of the fabulous pancakes from the Boys & Girls Club, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org. Workforce Summit Puts Youth on the Right Path for SuccessSalisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency Youth Summit
Thomas Barksdale of the Barksdale Foundation kicked off the summit on Wednesday, February 10th. Following the opening session, youth were able to attend relevant workshops. Kwain Bryant of Empowerment Exchange led an energized session titled It’s Your Life! Think Big, Act Bigger and Live Better. Volunteers from AmeriCorps led a fun filled and thought provoking session on Diversity.
When asked about the importance of the Youth Summit, Salisbury – Rowan Community Action Agency’s Business Liaison, Almond Miller commented that the “youth area our future, we have to get them ready.” “The [youth] came ‘dressed to impress’ and I really appreciate their participation. I am rooting for every one of them” commented Geneva Lovas-Lopez a Career Readiness Counselor at Rowan Cabarrus Community College. The Youth Summit is an annual event for SRCAA, and each year it gets better. The 2010 Summit has definitely been a success! The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina WDB Youth Council are strong supporters and partners of the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency through the WIA and ARRA funded services. The Board and the Youth Council are proud to see partners reaching youth through new and innovative ways. For more information about the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, please contact Ms. Joann Diggs at (704) 633-6633. For more information on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
Youth + Technology = Strong Future WorkforcePilot Program Gives Students ‘Netbook’ Laptops
“This is going to be good thing because we can save
paper and energy by using the laptops,” said sixth-grade
student Yosi Almanza. “It’s good as long as he (Yosi) knows how to
take good care of it,” he said. For more information about this pilot “netbook” program, click here for a more detailed article from Union County Public Schools. The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina WDB Youth Council are proud partners with Union County Public Schools and is happy to see partners connecting youth and technology to build a stronger workforce for the region. For more information on this wonderful career fair, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
|
The
WIA program has provided services to eligible youth, ages
16-21, in Rowan and Cabarrus counties. The agency’s
services focus on serving the neediest youth, with priority
given to the out-of-school youths needing additional education
assistance to earn a GED state diploma.
The
Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office (YAIO), a public agency
in the North Carolina Department of Administration, offers
a blend of programs and services for children, youth and young
adults. 
Thursday
morning began with another opening session led by Thomas Barksdale.
Youth then attended workshops on Soft Skills – Geneva
Lovas-Lopez of 
The
big event came Thursday night during a semi-formal banquet
in which young people were inspired by NFL Player Marques
Douglas. He talked to the youth about how they can
bring out their “inner champion”. During the banquet
all ARRA/WIA (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act/ Workforce
Investment Act) youth that completed the Workforce Work-Skills
Summit were recognized. A total of 19 youth attended the Summit,
17 of those of youth had earned their GED since being in the
program at SRCAA.
You
could sense the excitement in the air as parents and students
gathered in the Monroe Middle School media
center on Tuesday January 26, 2010 to get information that
would ultimately result in each sixth-grade student leaving
with a new Dell laptop computer and case.
Training session topics consisted of Expectations, Procedures
and Policies, Care and Maintenance, and Internet Safety. 
The
What's Happening in the Region?
Comings, Goings, Kudos…
|
||||||||||||
Dr.
Judy Grissom, superintendent for the Rowan-Salisbury
School System, has received the prestigious North
Carolina Distinguished Educator Award for 2010. Congratulations
Dr. Grissom!
Gov.
Perdue has named Scott Daugherty as N.C.’s
first small business commissioner. This
position will establish an organizational structure and
partnership for state-funded small business assistance
resources to clarify their roles, aggressively identify
outreach opportunities and most effectively serve small
businesses. Perdue also named George Millsaps
as assistant commissioner for small business.
• Centralina Workforce Development
Board meeting • Centralina WDB Executive Committee
Meeting • Centralina WDB Youth Council Meeting • Centralina WDB Workforce Readiness
Committee meeting • Incumbent Worker Program Information
Session • Competitive Workforce Alliance -
Allied Health Career Connections • Competitive Workforce Alliance -
Allied Health Career Connections • NewVenture Entrepreneurship Training • NewVenture Entrepreneurship Training • NewVenture Entrepreneurship Training • NewVenture Entrepreneurship Training • NewVenture Entrepreneurship Training
The North Carolina Workforce Development Training Center Training offers many great training sessions for every workforce development professional. The Center can even do online trainings for you and your colleagues. Some of the great training sessions include: Keeping Your Cool (When Others are HOT!), Assessment: The Foundation of Case Management, Delivering Excellent Customer Service, and Youth Services: A Variety of Topics. These are just some of the great training sessions they can put together for your team. So give them a call and see what they can do for you! Contact Robin Broome at (919) 306-1819 or visit their website for more information at www.ncwdtc.com. |
| Visit
our website at www.centralinaworks.com
to learn more about the Centralina WDB |
| To
learn more about the Centralina Council of Governments please visit
www.centralina.org |
| 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. |