Centralina WDB Helps More Businesses Succeed!

Incumbent Worker Grants Approved – Local Workforce Reaps Benefits

The Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) is proud to recognize the 5 local employers that have received Incumbent Workforce Development Program funding in the third and final round for 2008-2009. The Centralina Workforce Development Board approved these grants with funding provided by the NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Development. Each employer will receive the requested amount of funds to help upgrade the skills of their current workforce as listed below:

Gaylor Inc. of North Carolina in Mooresville (Iredell County) will train 30 construction employees. Employees will receive training in Project Supervision and LEED test preparation. Seven employees are expected to sit for the LEED Certification Exam administered by the United States Green Building Council. LEED certifications are portable skills that embrace the newest technologies in green building strategies. Gaylor Inc. of NC will be receiving $ 25,000 in Incumbent Workforce Development funds through a contract with the Centralina WDB, based on the grant awarded July 9, 2009.

Safety Solutions Inc. in Mooresville (Iredell County) designs and manufacturers head restraints, harnesses and other safety devices for the auto and marine racing industries. Forward Motion Associates will train 9 of their employees in ISO 9001 Implementation and Process Improvement. Successful completion of this training will position the company for ISO registration. Safety Solutions, Inc. will be receiving $ 24,900 in Incumbent Workforce Development funds through a contract with the Centralina WDB, based on the grant awarded July 9, 2009.

Yates Precision Machining in Mooresville (Iredell County) will join with sister company Roush Yates Engines, LLC to form a multiple business collaborative. Mitchell Community College will train 16 employees in ISO 9001 Implementation, Problem Solving, Geometric Dimensioning and Programming using MasterCAM X3 Software. Yates Precision Machining, LLC. will be receiving $ 24,420 in Incumbent Workforce Development funds through a contract with the Centralina WDB, based on the grant awarded July 9, 2009.

Maxon Furniture, Inc. in Salisbury (Rowan County), an office furniture manufacturer, will utilize Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to train 15 Maxon employees in Problem Solving, Operations Management, and Project Management. The overall impact the company expects from this training is improved customer service, cost savings and improvement in on- time delivery. Maxon Furniture Inc. will be receiving $ 22,028 in Incumbent Workforce Development funds through a contract with the Centralina WDB, based on the grant awarded July 9, 2009.

Opto-Alignment Technology in Indian Trail (Union County) is a small, family owned company that will use Incumbent Worker funding to contract with South Piedmont Community College to train 4 employees in ISO Quality Management Systems Implementation. The company expects to gain ISO registration and therefore qualify for military contracting opportunities. Opto-Alignment Technology will be receiving $ 13,599 in Incumbent Workforce Development funds through a contract with the Centralina WDB, based on the grant awarded July 9, 2009.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is now accepting applications for the first round of Incumbent Worker training funds for 2009-2010. The deadline for submission of applications to Centralina is Tuesday September 22, 2009. 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 revised guidelines and application please visit the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s website here or contact Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator at 704.348.2710 or vcarter@centralina.org. Vail is also available to assist companies in the completion of the application. Please look to our business section for two upcoming workshops Vail is holding for possible Incumbent Worker Grant applicants!

Centralina WDB Partners With R3 Center For Career Networking Event

The R3 Center of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College hosted a “Pink Slip Social” on Thursday June 18, 2009 at the Old Cabarrus Bank Building in Kannapolis. More than 100 job seekers attended the event making it a big success.

The Pink Slip Social gave persons who are unemployed or under-employed an opportunity to network and commiserate with each other and talk with community leaders and employers in a low-key, casual setting.

The event was sponsored by the Centralina Workforce Development Board, the Cabarrus County and Rowan County JobLink Career Centers, the North Carolina Research Campus, Carolina Logos, and the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

“We were excited so many people came to the Pink Slip Social,” said Keri Allman-Young, R3 Center site director. “Looking for a job can be a lonely experience. It’s good to interact with other people who are going through the same thing, and it helps to feel that you’re making some connections.”

The R3 Center and some of the other event sponsors also used the social to make more people aware of their services and programs.

“Some people just don’t know how many local agencies are here to assist them as they search for a job,” Keri explained. “Bringing everyone together in a single event was a real benefit to the attendees.”

The R3 Center is a career development center established by Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to assist workers who are unemployed or under-employed. The center’s mission is built on three Rs – a refocus on individual skills and interests, retraining and further education, and partnering with other workforce development agencies to secure career-oriented re-employment. The R3 Center helps adult workers assess and profile their skills, aptitudes, training and academic credentials, and future career interests to develop a plan for career growth.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to be a partner with the R3 Center and is excited to see a partner reach out to the community. For more information about the Pink Slip Social, please contact the R3 Center at (704) 216-7201.

Hey! Let’s Move Some Dirt!

Stanly Community College Heavy Equipment Operations Program is Up and Running

Stanly Community College (SCC) announced a new and revolutionary Heavy Equipment Operations program that will begin fall of 2009 Albemarle campus. College officials and partners participated in a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday July 21, 2009.

This project received support from The Golden LEAF Foundation, which has awarded Stanly Community College with two grants totaling $265,000.

“Golden LEAF has provided SCC’s short-term heavy equipment operator program with funding for both the virtual and heavy equipment needed to have a first-rate program” said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF President. “The Foundation’s grant provides trained operators for the companies here today looking for qualified workers. Golden LEAF is proud to help SCC build the talent, knowledge and skill of North Carolinians so that they may have the opportunity for immediate employability in the current economy.”

Carolina CAT, SCC’s Heavy Equipment Operations partner, has also been involved in sustaining the program. Vic Morris, Vice President and General Manager, Construction Equipment Division Carolina CAT noted, “Carolina CAT is proud to be a partner in the new Heavy Equipment Operations Program at Stanly Community College. Heavy equipment operations can be a very honorable and rewarding career. This training program is well designed to prepare the student for immediate job opportunities upon graduation.”

The NC Air Guard utilized Carolina CAT equipment and NC Air Guard trucks to clear a 15-acre site on the Albemarle campus. This area will be utilized for the new outdoor heavy equipment lab to train students.

The JobsNOW “12 in 6” initiative has been instrumental in helping to launch this new program by providing instruction funding, as well as some student scholarships. The JobsNOW “12 in 6” project is a collaborative effort between the NC Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Development, Centralina Workforce Development Board, and the North Carolina Community College System. The JobsNOW “12 in 6” initiative is subsidized under the Workforce Investment Act through funds by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Local heavy equipment vendors and contractors provided key knowledge for curriculum development and instructional enhancement.

The Heavy Equipment Operations program will involve approximately 675-contact hours that includes classroom and hands-on training focused on: construction and industry safety, hand and power tools, equipment controls and techniques, construction math, site materials, basic computer skills, as well as fundamentals of civil engineering and drawings. The curriculum materials are accredited and supplied from the National Center for construction Education and Research. Students will utilize CAT Virtual Training Systems, which are mobile simulators for assignments and performance requirements. Students will also learn “hands-on” skills in the new outdoor lab, located on the Albemarle campus.

SCC President Dr. Michael Taylor noted, “We are very fortunate to be able to work with such dedicated partners to launch a program of this magnitude, we know it will have a positive impact across the state. I want to thank all of our supporters; The Golden LEAF Foundation, Carolina CAT, CATERPILLAR, the NC Air Guard, Centralina Workforce Development Board, and the JobsNOW “12 in 6” initiative, for all their hard work and commitment that helped sharpen our strategy for this program.”

Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars also spoke at the ceremony. He thanked Dr. Taylor and his fine staff at the college for all their hard work in bringing this training to reality so quickly. David also thanked the Golden Leaf Foundation and Carolina CAT for their generous support and funding for the equipment for this training activity.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with Stanly Community College and is excited to see this program take shape. The Board is honored to have had a hand in making this training opportunity possible for the region. For more information about the Heavy Equipment Operations program, contact Ed Gann, Career and Technical Education Coordinator at Stanly Community College at (704) 991-0318 or egann9744@stanly.edu or visit their website at www.stanly.edu. Those interested in this training opportunity or any other training offered under the JobsNOW initiative should contact their local JobLink Career Center for possible training funding assistance through the Workforce Investment Act.

Anson County Manufacturer to Add 65 Jobs State Grant Helps Coffing Hoists Expand in Wadesboro Anson County manufacturer Coffing Hoists will add 65 new jobs over the next three years, replacing 16 positions lost in recent layoffs and creating 49 new positions within the company. Governor Bev Perdue announced Friday July 17, 2009 that Yale Industrial Products Inc., parent company of the Wadesboro facility, will invest $3 million over the next three years to create the new jobs. The announcement was made possible partially due to a $116,300 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. Yale Industrial Products Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbus McKinnon Corporation of New York, which makes powered and manual hoists, trolleys, cranes and other material-handling equipment for diverse applications worldwide. Columbus McKinnon also owns Duff-Norton, a separate manufacturing facility in Charlotte. Columbus McKinnon currently has four hoist manufacturing facilities in the United States: Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and Wadesboro. The Wadesboro plant presently employs 136 workers. The company plans to consolidate its Michigan operation into its existing plants in other states, including the Wadesboro facility, which will add a line of wire rope hoists. It is estimated that the 65 new jobs will pay an average annual wage of $37,031, excluding benefits. The jobs will all fall under the manufacturing umbrella said Joe Ombrello, general manager of Wadesboro Hoist Operations and will include positions such as assemblers, machinists and engineers, as well as several jobs within the purchasing department. Ombrello said he expects the recruiting for the new 65 positions to begin within the next few months. As new employment positions are identified at Coffing Hoists, they will be posted at the Anson County JobLink Career Center/Employment Security Commission located at 116 West Wade Street in Wadesboro. Applicants must apply at the center. For more information please call (704) 694-6551. Please note that Coffing Hoists is a strong partner with the Centralina Workforce Development Board. The company has received two Incumbent Worker Training Program grants in the past to help their employees with the needed training to be successful and to handle new opportunities. Bob Stowe, Human Resources manager at Coffing Hoists also serves on the Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Board’s Executive Planning Committee. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is happy to see local businesses thrive and survive in the current economy. Stay tuned to the Centralina WDB e-newsletter and website for more information. Existing Industry Specialist Uconda Dunn, holding state seal plate on the left, and Misty Harris, Anson County economic development director, second from left, recently joined Yale Industrial Products officials to celebrate the company’s expansion project announced July 17. Also pictured from left are: company officials Lynn Thomas, at left; Lisa Worley, third from left; Ed Seiler, holding plate; Ron Kountz; Joe Ombrello; Bob Stowe; Lisa Moore; and Jarvis Woodburn.   Coffing Hoists employees and local dignitaries gathered Monday, July 20, for the official announcement that the Wadesboro manufacturer will be adding 65 jobs over the next three years. Front row, left to right: Coffing Hoists employees Lisa Worley and Lisa Moore; Paula Tice, Wadesboro town councilwoman; Wadesboro Mayor Bill Thacker; U.S. Representative Larry Kissell; Joe Ombrello, general manager of Coffing Hoists; Anna Baucom, Anson County Board of Commissioners chair; Anson County Commissioner Jarvis Woodburn; Bob Stowe, human resource, safety and environmental manager. Back row: Coffing Hoists employee David Huntley; Wadesboro Town Manager John Witherspoon; Wadesboro Mayor Pro Tem Ed Emory; Anson County Manager Vance Gulledge; Wadesboro Councilman Lawrence Gatewood; Coffing Hoists employee Ron Kountz; and Wadesboro Councilman Bob Blalock Freightliner to Start Constructing Military Vehicles Production of military vehicles at Freightliner’s Cleveland plant could be the first step in building a network of military-related businesses. A Freightliner official told Rowan County commissioners that the Cleveland plant in Rowan County is the most logical place – “the right place to do business.” The Rowan County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to give Freightliner a five-year incentive grant. It will rebate 75 percent of county taxes due on new investment. The company is projected to spend $16 million to retool a portion of the Cleveland plant to build the much heavier military trucks, which include armor plating. As part of the agreement, Freightliner agrees to maintain the current 695 jobs and will expand as the economy and Defense Department contract allows. David M. Trebing, the company’s general manager of state and local relations, said volume will determine the number of jobs. He said the focus will be on making the operation as competitive as possible. Robert VanGeons, Executive Director of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, suggested that the potential impact of bringing military truck production here could be far greater. He pointed out that Rowan County will be the place military trucks are produced. “If we can do it right, it can be a strategy. We can leverage it and bring in suppliers.” Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for current up to date information on this new development. New Manufacturing Facility Comes to Lincolnton Spantek Relocates Plant to Lincoln County Spantek, based in Hopkins, Minnesota will be moving their Greensboro, North Carolina manufacturing facility to Lincoln County. The expanded metal company will occupy the former RSI Home Products, Semi-Custom 60,000 square foot facility on Generals Boulevard. Founded in 1963, Spantek is a certified manufacturer of expanded metal and is a recognized leader in the expanded metal industry; designing and manufacturing customized expanded metal coils and blanks for original equipment manufacturers. Upgrades to the RSI facility have already begun and the plan is to be up and running by October 2009. By the end of December Spantek will employ up to fifteen people with plans to increase that number to twenty-five within a year and a half. Rod Miller, Spantek President, stated “We are excited about the move to Lincolnton. It was determined that we should be in the Charlotte area – Lincolnton was the ideal place. Our initial association with civic and business leaders, Lincoln Economic Development Association staff and various people in the community reinforced this decision." This move will allow future growth, better customer service and customer development through the entire east and southeast corridor. Our office and plant renovation is currently underway. The actual move will be phased in beginning in August and completed in October. This will allow for personnel, equipment and systems implementation with minimal customer service impact during the transition in these very difficult economic times.” Mayor of Lincolnton, David Black stated “We’re glad a strong corporate citizen has announced they are locating to Lincolnton and that they agree that Lincolnton is a great place to locate their industry.” For more information about this exciting development please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly newsletter. Curious About the Incumbent Worker Grant Program? Come to One of Our Workshops! Two workshops are being offered for businesses interested in applying for the upcoming Incumbent Workforce Development Program grants. The first session will be held at Stanly Community College’s Crutchfield Campus in Locust, room 138 on Thursday, August 13th from 1:00 PM until 3:30 PM and the second workshop will be held at the Centralina Council of Governments 4th floor conference room, 1300 Baxter Street in Charlotte on Friday August 14th from 2:00 PM until 4:30 PM. Training providers are also welcome to attend these sessions to learn tips on submitting a competitive application. If you are interested in attending please contact Vail Carter, Business Services Coordinator at the Centralina Workforce Development Board (704-348-2710 or vcarter@centralina.org) to register. Rowan County Economic Development Commission Rolls out New Logo Rowan County’s economic development efforts have a new logo...RowanWorks. Robert VanGeons, executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission (EDC) and former Centralina Workforce Development Board member, explained recently that “Rowan” is inclusive, recognizing that the EDC serves all of the county and its municipalities. Meanwhile, “Works” is an action-oriented positive work, he said, and it leverages all of the good marketing the Rowan Jobs Initiative already has done with its “Available for Work” campaign. “I don’t think we’re going to lose anyone with this message,” VanGeons said. “It’s all about the total package, it really is.” Rowan County Commissioner Raymond Coltrain said he liked the all-county, team approach conveyed by RowanWorks. The logo unveiled to the EDC board Wednesday incorporates other important words or phrases: • Economic Development – “It’s what we do,” VanGeons said. • Salisbury, NC – reflective of the county’s largest city and county seat and “where to find us on a map,” VanGeons said. • For your business – a phrase that compliments “Available for Work.” VanGeons says the new logo represents an end to “disconnected identities” that maybe confused site selection consultants, companies, real estate brokers and citizens trying to find economic development information for the county. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for current up to date information on this new development. Quality Training from a Quality Institution Mitchell Community College Offers Expanded ISO Training for Employers Mitchell Community College now offers area companies expanded education and assistance with ISO Quality Systems Training. ISO 9000 is a series of international standards that provide guidance in the development and implementation of an effective quality management system. Not specific to any particular product, these standards are applicable to manufacturing and service industries alike. The goals of ISO are to embed a quality management system within an organization, increase productivity, and reduce unnecessary costs. ISO was created to make the attainment of quality, consistent products easier by providing specific steps for development. Companies that fulfill the standards may seek registration from an accredited registrar. Even companies not concerned with becoming registered may be well advised to consider ISO as a basis for improving their quality capabilities and customer satisfaction. Provide your company with a powerful tool to improve quality and your bottom line. Contact Betty Scipione, Director of Customized Industry Training at (704) 878-3234. Are you already ISO or TS certified? Call Mitchell Community College to help update existing or train new auditors within your company as well! Chamber Receives Prestigious Awards Rowan County Chamber of Commerce is Nationally Recognized The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) has presented the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce with two membership achievement awards for 2008. The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce achieved a top 10 placement in the $450,000-$900,000 total revenue category for both number of new members and new member dollars. The awards are determined from data compiled annually in an ACCE survey. Earlier, the Rowan County Chamber was notified by ACCE that, based on the same survey, it qualified to enter the national Chamber of the year competition. This is the fifth consecutive year the Chamber has earned that distinction. Seamus Donaldson of Community Bank of Rowan was Chamber chairman of the board in 2008, and Skip Wood of Community One Bank and current Chamber chairman elect was membership division chairmen for both 2007 and 2008. Donaldson previously served as membership division chairman in 2005 and 2006. Chamber President Bob Wright said, “We salute Seamus and Skip for stepping up and giving of their time and talents to help make the Rowan County chamber and business community stronger. They’ve done an outstanding job and continue to do so. We can’t thank them enough for their service.” The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and congratulates them on receiving these two outstanding awards! Resources for Starting and Growing Businesses New Ventures Business Development Offers More Resources to Entrepreneurs The New Ventures Business Development, Inc. is a great resource for those looking to start their own business or grow the one they have. Here are just a few examples of what that they have to offer: Survive and Thrive in a Recession As the sagging economy impacts small businesses, a panel discussion on surviving and thriving answers questions and suggests strategies in three business areas: business strategies; marketing and sales; and finance. The movies are in Windows Media format and available on the NVBDI website. The panelist are: Sarah French, owner Blu Moon Café; Dale Nelson, owner of Nelson Land and Livestock; Dana Maness, banker, Anson Bank and Trust Co.; Tom Neal, Small Business Administration; Stu Bantit, NCC-C Small Business Technology Development Center; Herb Joyner, SCORE; Dennis Harlow, professor of Business, Wingate University; Vince Holloman, Small Business Center, South Piedmont Community College. The panel moderator is Lois Crumpler, outreach coordinator, New Ventures Business Development, Inc. Resource Guide for Entrepreneurs The Central Piedmont Community College Institute for Entrepreneurship has compiled a database of more than 500 educational, governmental and non-profit groups and organizations committed to serving small business owners and entrepreneurs in the state of North Carolina. With a variety of resources, experience and expertise, the individuals in these organizations are prepared to help you meet your business needs. Begin using Resource Navigator now to get a custom report for organizations that best match your needs. No commitments, No selling, and no personal information required. For more information on these resources and to find out what else the New Ventures Business Development can do to help you and your business succeed, please visit their website at www.nvbdi.org or you can contact Lois Crumpler at (704) 272-5457. July'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 Contech Steel Products in Albemarle, NC (Stanly County). Wendi Alsobrooks of Contech Steel Products completed and submitted the survey. We thank Wendi for helping us with our continuous improvement feedback process! For more information about Contech Steel Products, please visit their website www.steelproductsgroup.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.

Employment Statistics
 Updated Monthly on this E-Newsletter

For more information on employment, click here

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is in YOUR Community!

During the month of July 2009, 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 Charlotte Area Human Resource Management event, the R3 Center Pink Slip Social, Stanly Community College’s Heavy Equipment Operations kickoff, and the WIA-ARRA Youth activities detailed in this e-newsletter, here are some the activities of the Board members and WDB staff for July.

Competitive Workforce Alliance Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership meeting – held on Thursday July 30 at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Business & Technology Center in Concord. Centralina WDB staff members David Hollars, Emily Clamp, and Vail Carter provided staff support at the meeting. Participants celebrated the receipt of a $250,000 2-year implementation grant from the NC Department of Commerce and conducted committee work.

Governor’s Study Commission on Public Education meeting – held on Wednesday July 29 at NC Biotech Center in Raleigh. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, was appointed by NC Governor Beverly Perdue to serve on this State Superintendent’s Commission to develop recommendations on workforce, entrepreneurial, and public schools issues facing North Carolina. Final recommendations will go the Governor and the General Assembly. At this meeting, David presented information on the NC Career Readiness Certificate (CRC), its impact on improving the skills the emerging and current workforce, and the Centralina WDB’s leadership role with CRC implementation in North Carolina.

Green 101 – Grant Writing Workshops – held on Tuesday July 21 in Raleigh and Tuesday July 28 in Hickory. Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative, participated in both workshops.

Charlotte Regional Economic & Workforce Recovery Initiative Team meeting – held on Wednesday July 15 at CPCC Harris Campus. Now led by Steve Partridge, 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.

NC Workforce Development Boards Directors Council meeting – held on Wednesday July 29 at the High Point Chamber of Commerce. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, attended this meeting which included a presentation from the NC Energy Office on workforce development and the energy sector in North Carolina.

ARRA-WIA Monitoring Reviews – held on Monday and Tuesday July 27 and 28 with NC Department of Commerce –Division of Workforce Development staff at Union County Community Action in Monroe; and on Thursday and Friday July 30 and 31 with US Department of Labor staff at Salisbury-Rowan Community Action in Concord. Centralina WDB staff members Patricia White, Natasha Pender and David Hollars provided staff support for the reviewers who examined participant files, worksites, and contractor records for the Summer Youth program.

NC Workforce Development Boards Association website development meeting – held on Wednesday July 1 at Centralina WDB offices. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director and Emily Clamp, Centralina WDB Program Assistant met with Tom Fuldner with CAI (Raleigh). CAI is contracted with the Association for website development.

Workforce Business Development and Assistance – provided by Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative for the following area companies and organizations:

• Radiator Specialty (Indian Trail) – Union County – Incumbent Worker application discussion – July 23
• Train the Trainer session for N.C. SHARE Network Operators – July 14
• Goodwill Job Connections site in Concord meeting to finalize plans for opening a SHARE Network Access Point at the store. Carolyn Mays, Manager of the Cabarrus JobLink Career Center, Wanda Weeks and Joy Fortune of Goodwill Industries attended the meeting – July 17
• Met with Rev. Al Lewis and Rev. Tim Belk to deliver job support materials for the My Safer Communities prison re-entry program in Union County and discussed the steps for becoming a NC SHARE Network Access Point site – July 23
• Met with Ms. Stephanie Starr, Executive Director of the Jewish Family Services to discuss the role of workforce development boards and services available through the NC SHARE Network program. Delivered job support materials at time of visit – July 29
• Participated in community meeting on the state of the economy hosted by Central Piedmont Community College and radio station WFAE – July 29

Additional site visits and personal contacts related to the faith-based and community organizations job support initiative to deliver job support resources:

• Rev. Jim Johns, Indian Trail Presbyterian Church – July 23
• Mrs. Steve Bateman, Workplace Ministries, Mineral Springs – July 23
• Ms. Barbara Lee, YWCA Jobs Program – July 23
• Ms. Kimberly Harrison, Friendship Baptist Community Development Corporation – July 28
• Mr. Bruce Edelman, Mecklenburg Public Library – July 23

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.

Centralina WDB Spreads the Word to Career Seekers

Local Human Resources Group Sponsors Summit

On Monday July 13, 2009 David Hollars, Executive Director of the Centralina Workforce Development Board spoke at the Career Transition Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Summit was sponsored by the Charlotte Area Society for Human Resource Management (CASHR) and was held at the Tyvola Marriott Executive Park. Over 250 career seekers from around the region attended this event.

David Hollars led two sessions on “The Competitive Advantage in a Changing Economy – Tools for Workers.” The session explained how local resources could be leveraged to meet the needs of dislocated workers and how businesses could quickly retrain their existing workforce.

The session also covered service options such as accessing and using self service tools, attending reemployment preparation workshops, providing referrals to jobs, receiving intensive services including training, Career Readiness Certification, the Incumbent Worker training program, and effectively utilizing labor market information.

The information was well received by over 100 individuals who attended the two sessions.

“It is vitally important for career seekers to understand the changes that have occurred in the labor market in the past few years”, Hollars stated. “Everyone must be willing to obtain the new skills for the today’s labor market. We are fortunate to have a great workforce here that is willing to learn new skills in order to move ahead in their careers”.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud to partner up with local organizations such as the Charlotte Area Society for Human Resource Management to get the word out about the services of the Board and its partners. Do you need a speaker? Or are you just interested in finding out more about the Board? If so please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.

A New Look Just in Time for School

Cabarrus County Schools Rolls Out New Site

Visitors to the Cabarrus County Schools website will likely be in for a surprise! The school system is debuting its first new website in several years. “We think this design is a more modern, fresher update,” said Ronnye Boone, the public relations director for the school system.

SchoolCenter, a website design and development group, transferred the files and created the initial look for the site for $4,000.

Some of the new features include digital photographs rotating on the top right corner, the most popular sections of the website listed at the top of the page and the vision, mission and values streaming at the top of the site.

To make visits to the website quicker and easier, tabs are color coded for the students, parents, community and employees and the contact information for the school system is prominently displayed.

The usual links to the various schools, board of education, superintendent’s page and other information will still be there but with a different look.

One feature that has undergone a change is the Cabarrus County Schools logo, which shows a globe and leaf that resembles an apple. The logo now has a different leaf, and new font and colors.

Please be sure to check out their new website located at www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us and let them know what you think!

Indian Trail is Recognized for the Success of its Community

Indian Trail town officials announced that Family Circle Magazine has named Indian Trail as one of the top 10 family-friendly small towns in the country.

“Those who live here and those in Union County in particular, I don’t think they’re going to be too surprised,” Town Councilman Dan Schallenkamp said. “Because they’re here for a reason, but I think it’s always great to have that external recognition that you made a good choice by living here.”

The magazine chose Indian Trail out of a narrow list of finalists after whittling down an initial roll of about 1,700 cities and towns with populations between 15,000 and 150,000. Indian Trail lands on the list alongside towns in Oregon, Ohio and Georgia. It is the only North Carolina municipality to be recognized.

Family Circle editors chose Indian Trail based on a list of criteria that included affordable homes, high-quality schools, green space, healthcare access, crime rates and fiscal responsibility.

Schallenkamp said Union County Public Schools’ reputation “probably played heavily” into Family Circle’s choice. “They do a great job especially given the unbelievable growth we’ve experienced in the last 10 years,” he said.

The magazine will print the recognition, alongside interviews with residents and leaders, in its August edition, which is available at newsstands now.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with Indian Trail, its citizens and businesses, and congratulates them on this great award!

Golden Opportunity Lands in Local Community’s Hands

Golden LEAF Foundation Announces Distribution of Funds in Anson County

After many town meetings and community gatherings, The Golden LEAF Foundation has awarded Anson County with the grant that they have been planning for over a year. The $2 million grant has been a work in process for the whole community as they worked together to decide how to spread the wealth throughout the county.

A total of $556,380 has been awarded to South Piedmont Community College for the Anson Guaranteed Job Ready Workforce program. The grant will assist South Piedmont Community College with increasing the number of qualified workers in Anson County through a targeted workforce outreach strategy, according the website of The Golden LEAF Foundation.

The program plans to identify potential workers and use a mobile career lab to provide staff that can assess, instruct and otherwise assist individuals. Workers earn a certificate and the program plans to have one-third of a planned 300 participants certified within two years.

New Ventures Business Development, Inc. was awarded $55,000 for a Community Commercial Kitchen. The kitchen will be available at the Lockhart-Taylor Center for use by caterers and local growers.

The county itself was awarded $80,000 for the Richmond Street sewer project. The funds supplement other sources that will be used to complete the project. Fifty homes will receive sewer service. Three tracts of undeveloped land will also have sewer available for future economic development.

The Anson County Arts Council received $150,000 for the Ansonia Renovation Project. The funds will provide the final 13 percent of necessary funding to complete the facility’s renovation.

HOLLA! was awarded $250,000 for a Resource and Community Development Center in Morven. The facility will provide job preparation, parenting workshops, tutoring, mentoring and other opportunities.

Hands of Hope was awarded $130,000 for the Circles Initiative Pilot Program. The program helps create support networks for individuals and families; it was created by Move the Mountain Leadership Center.

Anson County Schools was awarded $501,788 for College and Career Ready Graduates. Students will graduate with certificates of their “career readiness.” The Fast Forward program will assist underclassmen who are performing below grade level. Upperclassmen will have laptops available to them and teachers will receive training for the use of laptops and other methods of instruction.

All of these programs address many of the concerns citizens identified as problems in the community last year during public meetings held to decided how to spend the money. Most concerns fell under the umbrella of economic development, education, human resources and quality of life.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board congratulates all of the awarded programs in Anson County. The Board looks forward to seeing all of the positive outcomes that will emerge from these generous grants to the region. More information about the grants is available at www.goldenleaf.org.

NC Secretary of Commerce Visits Local Organization

Keith Crisco Visits Statesville to Discuss Current Issues

On Wednesday, July 8th, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco addressed 90 business and community leaders at the Greater Statesville Committee of 100 quarterly luncheon.

In his remarks, the secretary made specific mention of his ties to Iredell County and the Greater Statesville area, noting that several of his classmates at Pfeiffer University were from Statesville and Troutman. He used this point to segue in a discussion of how the quality of the people from this region are responsible for the success and recognition it has achieved on a a national level, specifically #1 Micropolitan and All-America City honors.

The secretary then went on to explain how the Perdue administration and the Department of Commerce are working to mitigate the effects of the recession through wise use of the stimulus dollars coming from Washington, and through creative programming like the 12 in 6 retraining initiative and the green economy plan. He also noted that Governor Perdue has been very proactive on matters of economic development; meeting with clients and working to address their concerns and requirements.

He finished by taking several questions from the audience on topics ranging from balancing the state budget to incentives for tourism-related industries in North Carolina.

The next Committee of 100 luncheon will be Wednesday, October 7th, and will feature Ernie Pearson, Special Counsel at Nexsen Pruet, LLC. For more information on this event or others put on by the Committee of 100 please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by email at eclamp@centralina.org.

NC Research Campus Update

Find Out What’s the Latest with this World Renowned Biotech Development

Microsoft Teams up with the Research Campus
A partnership between the David H. Murdock Research Institute and Microsoft Corporation will bring some of the software giant’s newest technology to the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis.

Microsoft’s Amalga Life Sciences software system will help the discovery process at the Kannapolis campus, says Kenneth Russell, chief information officer at the David H. Murdock Research Institute. The software allows researchers to streamline large and disparate amounts of health-care and life-sciences data so it can be efficiently accessed by researchers, he says.

The institute supports the David H. Murdock Core Lab and research efforts at the 350-acre campus. The life-sciences hub focuses on human health, nutrition and agriculture. It’s that new discovery that we’re looking for,” Russell says. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft introduced the software in late April.

Russell says the research campus’ capabilities provide Microsoft with an environment where it can further develop and advance its technology. He notes the site’s strong research base and state-of-the-art equipment.

Eight N.C. universities and the state’s community college system currently have a presence on the research campus.

NC Research Campus Adds Metabolism and Body Fat Study
Dr. Karen Corbin will likely be the first subject in the new $750,000 metabolic chamber at the University of North Carolina’s Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis. One of 11 in the country, the chamber will allow scientists to measure a subject’s metabolic rate to within 35 calories.

“This means we have the best tools available in the world to do this type of research,” said Corbin, clinical coordinator for the Nutrition Research Institute and a registered dietitian.

In a vast arsenal of clinical assessment tools, the metabolic chamber makes the Nutrition Research Institute one of the most complete nutrition and obesity research laboratories in the country.

Scientists will use the chamber and other cutting-edge equipment to help answer questions that frustrate millions.

NC Research Campus Showcases its Equipment and Expertise
On Tuesday June 30, 2009 the NC Research Campus hosted a workshop that attracted nearly 50 students and scientists who use microscopes in their research.

“It was one of the best imaging workshops I’ve been to,” said Dr. Tim Oliver, director of imaging for the cell biology department at Duke University.

The on-site education events are one way the institute will spread the word about the $1.5 billion life sciences complex in downtown Kannapolis. Some participants will come back and pay to use the world-class equipment in the Core Lab.

For more information on the workshops please contact the NC Research Campus at (704) 398-3200.

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.

Visit our website at www.centralinaworks.com to learn more about the Centralina WDB
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