ACT® Work Ready Communities for counties
By participating in the ACT® Work Ready Communities [WRC] initiative, counties can identify skill gaps and quantify the skill level of their workforce. This helps educators build career pathways aligned to the needs of business and industry -- and it also helps a community stand out and be recognized for its workforce development efforts. A strong workforce is a tremendous economic development advantage.
Counties engage in ACT® Work Ready Communities through successful completion of the ACT® Work Ready Communities Boot Camp. For those interested in engaging in the initiative there is an application process managed via the ACT® WRC® website. Interested counties should complete and submit an application online to join the next Boot Camp group. Click here for a schedule of upcoming WRC Boot Camps.
A county Work Ready Communities leadership team should, at minimum, have representatives from local government, economic development, workforce development, community/technical college, K-12 system, and business/industry.
What do Counties bring?
Participating county representatives are required to fund their travel to both sessions. The Boot Camp fee is $395 per person. Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided.
- Each county shall organize a cross agency team of government, educators, workforce, economic development and business/chamber leaders
- Two team members (required) from each county shall participate in the ACT® WRC® Boot Camp - which consists of 2, two day sessions
- Counties shall commit to developing, launching and sustaining a successful county certified ACT® Work Ready Community
- Counties shall have ACT® WorkKeys® tests and ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificates® accessible for individuals and employers
What does ACT bring?
- ACT shall provide the Boot Camp consisting of 2, two day sessions.
- ACT shall work with counties to establish initial goals based on ACT® Work Ready Communities Common Criteria
- ACT shall provide data, process and tools in the Boot Camp to drive county initiative success
- Data: ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC® and employer supporting data for each county
- Process: The ACT® WRC® Boot Camp to help counties build a WRC® initiative
- Tools: Monthly website delivery of data, communication tools and more
By participating in the WRC® initiative, counties can both identify skill gaps and quantify the skill level of their workforce. This helps educators build career pathways aligned to the needs of business and industry -- and it also helps a community stand out and be recognized for its workforce development efforts. A strong workforce is a tremendous economic development advantage.
Community Participation
When your community becomes a Certified Work Ready Community, you can prove the economic viability of your area to location consultants, investors, and other decision-makers.