Storm Technologies Receives Governor’s Award for Excellence in Workforce Development

The 2009 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Workforce Development Banquet was held at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro N.C. on Thursday October 8, 2009. Nearly 800 people from across the state gathered in Greensboro for the 2009 NC Workforce Development Partnership Conference in which the awards ceremony was the highlight of the three day event.

Storm Technologies, Inc., a privately owned company founded in 1992 and located in Albemarle (Stanly County), received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Workforce Development as an “Outstanding Employer.” Storm Technologies CEO Dick Storm proudly accepted the award on behalf of his company. He stressed the importance of mentoring as a key for building a strong workforce and partnerships within your community. Also attending the banquet from Storm Technologies was Danny Storm (Executive Vice-President) and Charlotte Maness (Human Resources Director). Stanly Community College staff (Dr. Tanya Davis, Kathy Almond, Kathy Gardner, and Marion Kinley) participated in the celebration along with Centralina WDB staff and Board members.

Storm Technologies provides a variety of services such as consulting, technical direction, general and comprehensive inspections, and performance testing service, fabrication, and airflow management systems.

The company has created a training program that allows field service technicians to bring their skill levels closer to the level of their engineers. Storm provides on-the-job training and cross training for newly hired employees and encourages its staff to attend Stanly Community College. The company, in partnership with a variety of local agencies, also encourages employee involvement with organizations that champion workforce development.

The company was nominated by Stanly Community College and the Centralina Workforce Development Board. The Centralina WDB is extremely proud to have the winner of the 2009 Governor’s Award in its region! For more information on this award or the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org.

SAVE THE DATE!

The 4th Annual Regional Economic and Workforce Development Summit is Announced!

Save the Date for the 4th Annual Regional Economic and Workforce Development Summit on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at the Baxter Hood Conference Center at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

This event is sponsored by the Competitive Workforce Alliance and the Charlotte Regional Partnership.

Look forward to an invitation soon!

For more information on the event, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.

Continuing to Build a Strong Allied Health Workforce in the Region

Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership Moves Forward with Goals

On Thursday October 22, 2009, the Competitive Workforce Alliance’s Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) held its largest meeting to date! The meeting was held at the Presbyterian/Novant Administrative Offices in Charlotte. The meeting was conducted by RSP chair Joann Spaleta of the Charlotte Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Project consultants Melinda McVadon and Donna North of the McLynn Group assisted with the meeting.

Over forty members of the Partnership attended the event that featured guest speaker Dr. David Boulay, Deputy Director of the NC State University Industrial Extension Service. Dr. Boulay discussed the importance of career pathways within Allied Health and how to make a successful pathway for individuals who choose to move up in their career. Special guests Janice Ivey and Brandon Comeaux from the NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Development attended and participated in the meeting, which was their first RSP meeting in the state.

After lunch, members of the Partnership received an update regarding the other similar projects that were going on around the state. Then the Partnership’s committees were able to meet and discuss their work plans, goals and ongoing projects. Many of the ongoing projects include career expos that will take place all around the 16 county region, a Allied Health Summit and setting up a career pathways program in the region.

The Competitive Workforce Alliance formed the Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership, which is a consortium comprised of employers, economic, education, workforce development and economic development professionals and training providers that meet regularly to create strategies and programs that continually assess, prioritize, and respond to the workforce training needs of employers in the allied health industry. Its mission is “to assure that the region has the allied health resources necessary to meet the healthcare needs of its citizens”.

The Competitive Workforce Alliance and the Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership are excited to keep pushing forward with the Allied Health initiative for our region. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-newsletter for exclusive updates on what future steps the Partnership will be taking. For more information on the Competitive Workforce Alliance and the Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership, please visit their website at www.agreatworkforce.com or contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org.

A Fresh Start for the Region!

JobsNOW “12 in 6” Program is Live Region-Wide

As mentioned in a previous edition of the Centralina Workforce Development Board E-Newsletter, the JobsNOW “12 in 6” initiative is fully underway and available throughout the region.

The JobsNOW “12 in 6” program is a collaborative effort between the North Carolina Department of Commerce - Division of Workforce Development, the North Carolina Community College System, and locally, the Centralina Workforce Development Board.

JobsNOW will address the workforce challenges related to ensuring that enough workers are trained with the right skills for the current economy. The goal of the initiative supports training activities that can be completed in less than six months, lead to recognized credentials, are affordable and have flexible hours.

Every community college in the Centralina WDB region is offering courses through the JobsNOW initiative. To find out what courses are available, please click here to see a list of programs region-wide by program and by community college.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a strong supporter of the JobsNOW “12 in 6” and encourages all of those that are interested to please contact your local Community College for more information. For direct information about the initiative please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Preparing to Assist Increases in Enrollment

Mitchell Community College Opens New Student Services Building

Mitchell Community College’s new Student Services building is officially open for business. A dedication ceremony was held this month at the front entrance of the building on the corner of Mulberry and Walnut streets.

MCC Board of Trustees members and other college supporters cut the ribbon signifying the official opening of the new two-story, 20,000 square-foot building.

The new building will house services that were once available in the main administrative building. Those services include financial aid, a tutoring center, admissions and records, veteran’s affairs, advising and counseling centers, a testing lab, two classrooms and staff offices.

The $3.9 million project was funded by the 2005 education bond referendum. The new Student Services building will allow for the addition of six classrooms in the main building. This will help Mitchell Community College keep up the pace with their growing enrollment.

According to Student Services Vice President Dan Manning, enrollment is up by 23 percent over last fall and 40 percent from two years ago. “We need to be able to serve an increasing number of students in a way that’s conducive to serving them well,” he said.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with Mitchell Community College and congratulates them on this great expansion. Being able to serve more people in training will help continue to make our region number one in workforce development! For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org.

Business Expo is a Great Success! Stanly County Chamber of Commerce 7th Annual Business Expo On Wednesday October 14, 2009, the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce held its 7th Annual Business Expo at Stanly Regional Medical Center’s Family and Education Center from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. This year’s theme “Look Local First, Buy in Stanly County” featured 60 businesses and non-profit organizations in a “trade show” setting to show off their products and services. The Centralina Workforce Development Board was a co-sponsor of the event. Admission was free and door prizes were given throughout the day with two grand prizes, a $250 gift certificate and a three-day, two-night beach trip. Everyone in the community was invited to attend to see all the products, goods and services that Stanly County has to offer. Over 600 people visited the many businesses and agencies who participated in this great event. Tom Ramseur, Stanly County Chamber President/CEO and Centralina WDB member was very pleased with the participation of local businesses and the attendance at the event on a rainy Wednesday. Mini-seminars were offered to attendees. These half-hour workshops included “Interview Tips That Work”, “You Are What You Eat”, and “10 Minutes of Beauty”. Stanly Community College had its cosmetology students on hand at the event to provide polish changes as well as paraffin dips. The Heavy Equipment Operations program from the college had its Heavy Equipment Simulator available for demonstrations as well. Overall the event was a great success! The Expo was well received by the community and the businesses and organizations participated in successful networking. For more information about the Business Expo please contact CaShaun Miller at the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce at (704) 982-8116 or by email at cmiller@stanlychamber.org. Storm Technologies participated in the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce 7th Annual Business Expo.   Stanly Community College greeted visitors to their booth and talked with them about courses and programs available at the College. New Resource for Businesses Looking to Expand or Move to Iredell County Greater Statesville Development Corporation Adds Sites and Buildings Application to Website After more than four months of planning and development, the new Sites & Buildings application went live on Greater Statesville Development Corporation's web site greaterstatesville.org on Monday October 5. Those who were familiar with the old Sites and Buildings page will see a significant upgrade in capabilities and ease of use. Visitors accessing the site are now presented with a map of Iredell County and several search options. Searches can be conducted on location, size of building, ceiling height, access to rail or a combination of these and several other user defined criteria. Once these criteria are determined and the search completed, a graphic representation of each building's location is displayed on the screen. The visitor then has the option of viewing or printing off additional information about any or all of the buildings and sites, including targeted demographic information and information about other businesses located in the area. "The new system is a substantial upgrade from what it replaced," according to Mike Smith, Executive Director of the GSDC. "It is much easier to use and provides more data for businesses and site selection professionals." The new application was developed for the Greater Statesville Development Corporation by GIS Planning, with support from the Charlotte Regional Partnership. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development in our region! Centralina WDB Partners Honor Local Businesses Stanly JobLink Career Center and Vocational Rehabilitation Host Annual Employer Appreciation Day Each October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month by congressional designation. This is an opportunity for the community to take a closer look at the untapped labor force of American workers with disabilities. In this tough economy, it is difficult to find employment to meet the financial obligations but the individual with work-related restrictions will find it even harder to obtain employment because of the restrictions but not because of the lack of effort. Historically people with disabilities are underemployed and thus the need for more recognition and focus on this issue. In observance of this month, the Stanly County JobLink Career Center and Vocational Rehabilitation hosted an Employer Appreciation Celebration to give a modest thank you to employers who have worked with these organizations in hiring workers and provided an award to showcase an employer for their service. The event was held on Thursday October 22, 2009 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at the Vocational Rehabilitation offices at 702 Henson Street in Albemarle. The official theme for this year was “Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation.” This year’s theme emphasized the vision of the Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy: a world in which people with disabilities have unlimited employment opportunities. The event was well attended by many and honored businesses throughout the community. Britthaven Nursing Center won the employer of the year. Cathy Lambert of Britthaven was on hand to accept the award. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with the Stanly County JobLink Career Center and Vocational Rehabilitation. The Board is happy to see organizations in the community recognizing employers for their hard work and effort in bettering our region. For more information on this great event, please contact Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Stanly County at (704) 982-8124. Britthaven Nursing Center won the Employer of the Year Award and Cathy Lambert was on hand to accept the award. In the photo left to right: Cathy Lambert of Britthaven Nursing Center, Nathan Sanges local JobLink Career Center Manager, Pinky Furr and Mary Walls of the Stanly County Vocational Rehabilitation Services office. Medical Lab Opens New Facility with Hopes to Expand CBLPlath Launches Operations in Cabarrus County CBLPath has opened an office in Concord and may expand by starting a new pathology lab. The company has launched the operation with 10 employees in a 2,500-square-foot space in The International Business Park at Concord. Its local presence could grow to a 50,000-square-foot laboratory in the coming years, says David Bryant, president and chief operating officer. “We might want to move down here.” CBLPath is based in Ocala, Fla., and has a major lab in Rye Brook, N.Y. The company provides lab-test services to 4,500 physicians’ offices around the nation. Even if the company expands in Concord, Bryant expects most of its lab functions, as well as 35 physician pathologists, to remain in Rye Brook. CBLPath employs 380 in New York, Florida and other sites. Bryant will be based at the Concord office along with marketing and sales personnel. He expects the office to grow to about 15 employees in the short term. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development in our region! Manufacturers Start Council to Get Fresh Ideas Iredell County Companies Working to Help Each Other Improve The newly formed Iredell Manufacturers Council is expected to help lean manufacturers trade ideas and best practices. The council for manufacturing industry leaders is sponsored by the Greater Statesville Development Corporation, Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corporation and Mitchell Community College. The organization will primarily focus on streamlining production and management strategies, but will also include topics such as safety, quality control and the environment. “Industries share the same growing pains,” said Jan Comer, Engineered Sintered Components vice president of human resources and Centralina Workforce Development Board member. “It’s nice to hear about best practices that have already been practiced.” John Marek, Greater Statesville Development Corporation expansion direction said the council is forming at the request of several area manufacturers who wanted to talk about their experience implementing lean manufacturing. The lunch meetings for the manufacturing council started in October. Each meeting will focus on a single topic and feature a speaker. The manufacturer hosting a meeting will offer attendees a tour of the facility and a question-and-answer session. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is happy to see local businesses not only survive but thrive in the current economy. Stay tuned to the Centralina WDB e-newsletter and website for more information. Publicity and Expansion for Stanly County Communities Norwood Business Association Meeting Brings Great News Changes in the management of a business, as well as the expansion of another, and the possible use of a regional travel guide for publicity were among topics of discussion at a recent Norwood Business Association (NBA) meeting. Chris Lambert, executive director of the Stanly County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, presented information concerning the launch of a guide placed within future editions of TravelHost, which has been recognized as America’s No. 1 travel magazine, with editions in most of the country’s major cities. Specific to the Greater Charlotte edition, the “Explore Stanly County” guide, according to a letter written by Jennifer Brady, the periodical’s owner and publisher, will help “attract more visitors to the area who are looking for unique day trips and places to stop overnight on their way to other destinations.” The guide is set to run for an initial term panning from November through April and will include a combination of calendar information, a tourism focused map, ad space and editorial content. Another great announcement for the community was made by Brenda Bradley, who owns and operates New Finish, Inc., which sandblasts and powder coats items, including metals, announced that they recently expanded the business to the building that formerly housed Supreme Knits, Inc., and will soon operate an E-Coat process, which give paint a wet look when dried. New Finish will be keeping its powder coat division at its South Stanly School Road location. For more information about this exciting development please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly newsletter. 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. October'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 SimplexGrinnell LP in Charlotte, NC (Mecklenburg County). Karen Runett of SimplexGrinnell completed and submitted the survey. We thank Karen for helping us with our continuous improvement feedback process! For more information about SimplexGrinnell, please visit their www.simplexgrinnell.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 October 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 NC Workforce Development Conference, Stanly County Chamber Business Expo, and Vocational Rehabilitation Employer events detailed in this e-newsletter, here are some the activities of the Board members and WDB staff for October.

Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting – held on Tuesday October 13 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. Centralina WDB Chair Bob VanGorden’s presentation highlighted that the Board is faced with the task of being vision driven about the short-term (high unemployment, fewer jobs available, more training needed) but maintaining a sense of urgency about the future and being ever vigilant of things to come. The challenges of developing the local workforce now and for the future has many obstacles. Bob lead the discussion and proposed some options for the Board and its committees to consider in planning for 2010 and beyond. The Board’s advocacy role on key issues was also discussed. The Board heard updates on the successful Youth Services Summit held in September, the NC Workforce Development Partnership Conference, and the Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership. The Board approved the submission of 8 Incumbent Worker grant applications to the NC Department of Commerce. Information on the 4th Annual Workforce/Economic Development Summit scheduled for November 17th, local labor market information, and updates on other key workforce issues (including ARRA activities) were also presented.

Centralina Workforce Development Board – New Members Orientation session - held on Tuesday October 13 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. Centralina WDB Chair Bob VanGorden, WDB Executive Director David Hollars, and WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender reviewed the Orientation Handbook with 8 new or recently appointed Board members.

Competitive Workforce Alliance Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership meeting – held on Thursday October 22 at Presbyterian Hospital/Novant Health offices. Dr. David Boulay from NC State Industrial Extension Service spoke to the group about career pathways for the allied health field. NC Department of Commerce staff members Janice Ivey and Brandon Comeaux attend the meeting. Centralina WDB staff members David Hollars and Emily Clamp participated in this meeting which included healthcare providers, community college and private trainers, and workforce professionals. Committee updates were also presented.

Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce – Board presentation – on Tuesday October 27 at ACN Corporate Headquarters in Concord. At the request of Chamber President/CEO John Cox, David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director presented the Chamber board of directors with an update on workforce development efforts in the region.

Rowan-Salisbury Schools Community Report meeting – held on Tuesday October 20 at the YMCA in Salisbury. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, participated in this meeting at which Rowan County United Way was recognized for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Governor’s NC Career Ready Commission meeting – held on Tuesday October 29 at Burroughs-Welcome Fund offices in Research Triangle Park. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, was appointed by NC Governor Beverly Perdue to serve on this Commission chaired by State Superintendent June Atkinson to develop recommendations on workforce, entrepreneurial, and public schools issues facing North Carolina. Final recommendations were prepared at this meeting which will now go the Governor, the JOBS Commission, and the General Assembly.

Charlotte Regional Partnership meeting with prospective training provider – held on Monday October 26 at CRP offices in Charlotte. At the request of CRP staff, David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, and Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative participated in this meeting with representatives from Precision Manpower Resources to discuss a possible advanced craft training facility for the region.

Mooresville Graded Schools Career Bridge meeting – held on Monday October 19 at NF Woods School in Mooresville. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, participated in this meeting which is an advisory board for career and technical education. David also participated in a planning meeting on October 1 for the upcoming Mooresville Schools Economic Summit which will be held on Tuesday November 3 at the Charles Mack Citizens Center in Mooresville.

NC Department of Public Instruction – Career and Technical Education Marketing Committee meeting – held on Friday October 2 at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, and Tom Ramseur, Centralina WDB member participated in this meeting titled “Dignity for All Occupations”.

Union County Vocational Rehabilitation Employer Appreciation event – held on Thursday October 29 at VR offices in Monroe. Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative participated in this event which was co-sponsored by the Union County JobLink Career Center.

Monroe Economic Development Commission meeting - held on Thursday October 22 in Monroe. Centralina WDB Business Services Representative Vail Carter attended this meeting and provided participants with valuable local labor market information as well as updates on activities with the Union County JobLink Career Center and its partners.

Charlotte Regional Economic & Workforce Recovery Initiative Team meeting – held on Wednesday October 28 at the Professional Career 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.

Workforce Investment Act/Workforce Plus training session – held on Wednesday October 21 at Mitchell Community College in Mooresville. Centralina WDB Operations Manager Patricia White conducted the training session for 10 staff members from Centralina WDB service providers for WIA Youth activities

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

» Incumbent Worker grant assistance visit - United Protective Technologies (UPT) (Locust – Stanly County) – October 1
» Incumbent Worker Contract Monitoring (mid-term visit) at Advanced Machine Company (Denver – Lincoln County) – October 5
» Incumbent Worker grant assistance visit - M&M Technology (Indian Trail – Union County) – October 5
» Incumbent Worker Contract Monitoring (mid-term visit) at Crawford Composites (Denver – Lincoln County) – October 5
» NC Business Services Representatives quarterly meeting – Greensboro – October 6
» Incumbent Worker grant assistance visit - Decorative Specialties (Monroe – Union County) – October 13
» Incumbent Worker contract follow-up visit – Calico Coatings (Denver – Lincoln County ) – October 16
» Visited East Lincoln Public Library (SHARE Network site) to deliver Job Search materials and service marketing banner – October 16
» Visited Job Connection at Goodwill store in Concord. Delivered SHARE Network Job Support materials and discussed use of ONET and the Occupational Outlook handbook with Ms. Marion, Title V volunteer at the site – October 22
» Incumbent Worker contract follow-up visit – QEMS (Monroe – Union County) – October 22
» Attended meeting with Maria Hanlin of Mecklenburg Ministries and Moira Quinn of Center City Partners to plan Job Support Group winter event – October 28
» Attended faith-based luncheon event at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte to observe logistics and layout as possible site for the SHARE Network winter event – October 29
» Met with Rev. Dan Marshall to deliver SHARE Network Job Support materials for Union County – October 29
» Incumbent Worker grant assistance visit – Record-USA (Monroe – Union County) – October 29

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.

Free Resources for Those Facing Foreclosures

Home Protection Program Helping North Carolinians in Danger of Losing Their Homes

As the nation is going through tough economic times, many individuals may fear losing their homes. Thanks to the NC Housing Finance Agency homeowners in our region have a resource that might be able to help them avoid foreclosure.

The NC Housing Finance Agency administers the Home Protection Program that can provide a bridge loan if one has lost their job due to changes in the economy. Participating counseling agencies can help determine if someone is eligible for assistance, help them apply, and assist in securing a stay-of-foreclosure while the application is being reviewed.

The Office of the Commissioner of Banks reviews sub-prime loans that closed in 2005, 2006, and 2007. They connect homeowners facing foreclosure with local counselors that maybe able to help one renegotiate the terms of their loan or get legal assistance.

For more information on this program and who provides the service in your county, please contact one of the participating counseling organizations found on our website located here. You can also find more information at www.ncforeclosurehelp.org or you can call (888) 384-3811.

New Training Program Helps Fill Skills Gap

Stanly Community College Opens Pharmacy Technician Program

Stanly Community College (SCC) will be offering a new training program this coming spring through the JobsNOW “12 in 6” initiative. This innovative program is designed to provide students with trade knowledge and technical skills in the area of pharmacy technician.

Pharmacy technicians work with a licensed pharmacist to provide medication and other healthcare products to patients.

“Employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed formal pharmacy technician training,” said Rita Phillips, director of Occupational Education and Protective Services for Stanly CC and also a participant member of the Competitive Workforce Alliance Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership.

“With the rising pharmacy workload due to our aging population, the employment outlook for well trained pharmacy technicians looks promising,” Phillips said.

This specialized program is designed to prepare students for national certification with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Students will be trained for rewarding employment as a pharmacy technician in various pharmacy settings. The program includes lecture, lab and clinical instruction, as well as national certification exam preparation.

The Pharmacy Technician program is now a single 108 hour course, with 36 hours of coursework taking place in a clinical setting. The remaining hours are in a traditional classroom setting.

Classes are set to begin next spring and SCC encourages students to register early to ensure a smooth enrollment process. The Silver-Level Career Readiness Certificate is required prior to registering for this program.

For more information on the Pharmacy Technician Program please contact Rita Phillips, Continuing Education Director of Occupational Educational and Protective Services at (704) 991-0367 or visit the Stanly Community College website at www.stanly.edu.

Centralina Workforce Development Board Has Training Money to Help Your Business!

Find Out How We Can Help You Succeed

Want a great way to help upgrade the skills of your current workforce and prepare for the future? The Centralina Workforce Development Board can help. The Board is currently accepting applications from local businesses for Incumbent Workforce Development training.

The Incumbent Workforce Development training is designed to upgrade employees' skills and increase companies' competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The second application round for funding will close on Wednesday January 20, 2010, with one other round to follow. The maximum amount of funds available per business is $25,000. Since the grants are competitive, local businesses are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Preparing in advance for your grant submission is always best.

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.

Please contact Vail prior to submitting your application to the Board. Vail is available to assist your company in completing the application and getting it to the Board for review prior to January 20, 2010. So don’t delay, submit your application today.

NC Research Campus Update

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

Research Campus Lands USDA Human Nutrition Center
The NC Research Campus has landed a USDA Human Nutrition Center, the first of its kind in the Southeast. The US Department of Agriculture could hire as many as 150 people for the nutrition center, which cleared a final hurdle recently when President Barack Obama signed the 2010 Agricultural Apparitions Bill.

The new law includes $1 million to establish the center at the Research Campus. The $1 million is seed money to open the center, hire several scientists and support staff. If successful, the center eventually could have an annual budget of $25 million.

Research Campus is now “Market Ready”
A program at the NC Research Campus that helps North Carolina farmers compete in the marketplace has changed its name. NC State University’s Program for Value-Added & Alternative Agriculture has become NC MarketReady.

Dr. Blake Brown, a professor in the NC State Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, founded the program in 2006 with funding from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

Since then, the program team based at the Research Campus in Kannapolis has grown to give faculty and four staff members. They work closely with NC State’s Plants for Human Health Institutes, also based at the Campus, as well as with faculty from the main campus in Raleigh and Cooperative Extension field faculty across the state.

Market ready, or being ready for market, implies all facets of a business – research, business planning, production, management, food safety and marketing. The team that makes up this program focuses on agricultural enterprise development, business skills education, fresh produce safety, horticultural skills education and strengthening markets.

You can find out more about the program by visiting their website at www.ncmarketready.org.

Leaders Look to Future of Biotechnology
The Charlotte metro region rates very strong in biotechnology, with more 700 companies and about 90,000 workers.

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton told these numbers to about 400 attendees at the Charlotte Biotechnology Conference at UNC Charlotte last month. The numbers are part of the preliminary results from a market study to determine where the Charlotte biotech industry rates in the state.

"I think the future is bright for Charlotte and North Carolina," Dalton said. "Being a leader in biotech is a positive thing for the state and the region."

The biotech cluster study, sponsored by the N.C. Biotechnology Center, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Central Piedmont Community College and the Charlotte Regional Partnership, aims to show where Charlotte ranks as a region in biotechnology and related industries.

While Dalton did not give too many figures away, he did say Charlotte leads in the four main areas of biotech — marine, industrial, agriculture and health-related.

Dalton also said while the average salary for the Charlotte region is about $40,000, the average salary for biotech jobs is about $69,000, and biotech jobs are growing five times faster than jobs in other sectors.

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.

Rowan County High School Makes National Rankings Salisbury High School Honored with Two Awards Salisbury High School has been recognized – yet again – by two national publications which rank public schools. Newsweek identified the school as one of the 1,500 best public schools in the nation in its September issue. This is the fifth consecutive year the school has made the national ranking. U.S. News & World Report awarded Salisbury High a Silver medal for being one of the nine best public schools in North Carolina and one of the 604 best schools nationwide. It is the only school in North Carolina to receive a Silver Medal both years the award has been presented. Salisbury High Principal Dr. Windsor Eagle said he heard about the school’s ranking in an e-mail. “We’re very excited about it,” he said. “Each year, we’re pleasantly surprised by the rankings. I’m real proud of the students and teachers.” In addition to the national rankings, the NC Department of Public Instruction designated Salisbury High last month as a “School of Progress” after testing results showed that 77.5 percent of its students who participated in state testing score “proficient” (Level 3 or 4). Salisbury High was the only school in the county to achieve this status for the 10th time during the past 12 years. The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council would like to congratulate Salisbury High School for their great achievements and contributions to the community! For more information on the awards received or the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org. * * * * * * * Reaching the “Future 4 Kids” Centralina WDB Youth Council Features Great Presentation The Centralina Workforce Development Board’s Youth Council meeting held on Thursday October 22, 2009 in Concord featured a great presentation from Susan Milliken, Executive Director for Futures 4 Kids (F4K). F4K is based in Raleigh, yet has a presence in over 20 North Carolina counties. F4K recently getting started in Stanly County, and since the Youth Council meeting, there has been much interest from Iredell County stakeholders in beginning a F4K program in their county. F4K is an online tool that matches students with career coaches. The great thing about F4K is that the mentor/coach “chat” sessions that occur online, satisfy the student requirement to establish a relationship with a career mentor as established by the North Carolina Graduation Project. F4K was featured at the Centralina WDB Youth Services Summit in September and because of interest generated then, they were invited back for follow-up and to answer many questions about how to initiate the program in Centralina WDB’s counties. The meeting was both interesting and informative. To view the presentation or for a demo of the tool, please visit www.way2work.org. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org. Susan Miliken, Executive Director for Futures 4 Kids, presented at the October 22, 2009 meeting. * * * * * * * Literacy Council and School Team up to Fight Illiteracy A.L. Brown High School and Cabarrus Literacy Council Start Peer Tutoring Program Students training to be peer tutors at A.L. Brown High School were asked several things as they began their session this month, such as how they learned to read and what they would do if they did not have reading materials. Jane Armitage, a tutor trainer with the Cabarrus Literacy Council, asked the nine students this to introduce them to teaching their peers how to read. The students are participating in the Literacy Council’s Student Ambassador Society program, which facilitated at A.L. Brown and Concord high schools, to address illiteracy. In addition to going over the basics of teaching how to read, Armitage also taught the students about the importance of the relationship between tutors and their peers. Students are typically paired with others who have similar interests. Students are typically paired with others who have similar interests. “You’re not going to have your student sit down and say, OK, let’s go to work,” Armitage said. “You’re going to have to learn something about them first.” Armitage told the students the hardest and neatest thing they would have to do is remember how they learned to read and never to assume their peers know the same things when it comes to literacy. “Students who already have the passion and willingness to help are already achieving the most important part of tutoring,” Armitage said. “By their acceptance of their student, they will make a difference. You don’t need to be a teacher to teach (how to) read. You just have to want to help.” The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council applaud A.L. Brown High School, Concord High School, the Cabarrus Literacy Council and all the youth who are participating in this great “tutor your peer” program. Improving Functional Literacy is the top priority of the Board and the Youth Council and they believe fully in tutoring programs. For more information on this program or the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org. * * * * * * * Kudos for Iredell County School with Highest Graduation Rate! Lake Norman High School Receives Great Award An Iredell County high school has received an accolade that few schools in the state can say they have earned. Lake Norman High, which has the largest number of students enrolled than any other Iredell-Statesville Schools high school, was recognized for having the highest graduation rate in the 400-499 cohort level. “Lake Norman was 93 percent, which is phenomenal,” said Dale Ellis, interim assistant superintendent of secondary education. The level at which Lake Norman was recognized is the second-highest cohort in terms of student enrollment. Ellis credits the good work of teachers, support of administration and relationships established between students and staff for the honor. “Not only do a lot of kids start school at Lake Norman, but they finish, which is exciting,” he said. The school was one of two recognized at the 400-499 cohort level. The other was Jack Britt High in Cumberland County. Seventeen schools and 12 school districts in the state were recognized for their high graduation rates during a reception in Raleigh. “It’s an award we’re excited about for Lake Norman,” Ellis said. The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud of Lake Norman High School and congratulates them on this prestigious honor! Well prepared youth leads to a well prepared workforce. For more information on this award or on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org. Lake Norman High School received the North Carolina Graduation Award for being the school with the highest percent of graduates in schools of similar size in the 2008-2009 school year!!! Pictured from left during the award presentation ceremony are former Governor Jim Hunt, LNHS Principal Ben Allred, NC State Superintendent June Atkins, LNHS Assistant Principal Jennifer Peace.

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