Yesterday, Bienville Parish leaders announced it has met all criteria to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community, demonstrating its commitment to developing a strong workforce pipeline, desirable to employers, economic developers and current and future citizens of the parish. Acquiring the status of an ACT Work Ready Community has been an ongoing joint effort between Bienville Parish School Board, Bienville Parish Police Jury, Haynes International, and the Town of Arcadia.
The ACT® Work Ready Communities (ACT® WRC)initiative empowers states, regions and parishes and counties with data, processes and tools that drive economic growth by identifying skills gaps and quantifying the skill level of their workforce. Participants leverage the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC®) to measure and close skills gaps and build common frameworks that link, align and match their workforce development efforts.
To begin the certification process, Bienville Parish leaders attended the ACT Work Ready Communities Boot Camp, an executive leadership and training program designed and led by ACT to initiate, deploy, and drive carefully tailored efforts to improve the county’s work readiness. Leaders met with local employers, policymakers, educators and economic developers to establish goals and build a sustainable WRC model to fit community needs.
Mayor O’Landis Millican stated “achieving this certification is another example of our commitment to progress and expanding the local workforce with highly qualified applicants.”
“Congratulations to Bienville Parish for becoming an ACT Work Ready Community, and joining a growing list of counties dedicated to building a robust workforce,” said ACT Regional Manager of Workforce Initiatives, Tony Garife. “The efforts of the county leadership to achieve WRC certification will provide the community with a tremendous economic development advantage and help it stand out for its workforce development efforts.”
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