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Governor Perdue Announces Jefferson County as First Certified Work Ready Community Issued: 10/29/2008

STATE OF GEORGIA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Sonny Perdue
GOVERNOR

For Immediate Release
Contact: Office of Communications
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
(404) 651-7774

Governor Perdue Announces Jefferson County as First Certified Work Ready Community
Skilled Workforce Driving Economic Development

ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that Jefferson County has been named the state's first-ever Certified Work Ready Community, a designation showing the county has the talented workforce that business demands and the educational infrastructure to drive economic growth and prosperity.

"The Jefferson County community build a strong public-private partnership and used that group to promote Work Ready throughout the community," said Governor Perdue. "I am so proud of this effort and for the county's ongoing efforts to engage students, citizens, employers and others in the value of Work Ready and the strength of our rural communities."

To earn the Certified Work Ready Community designation, counties must demonstrate a commitment to improving public high school graduation rates, show a specified percentage of graduates are entering the workforce, and drive current workers and the unemployed to obtain a Work Ready Certificate.

Jefferson County improved its public high school graduation rate from 75.5 percent in 2006 to 791 percent in 2008 - an impressive improvement of nearly four percentage points in only two years. At the same time, the county exceeded its Work Ready Certificate goals in every category, for a total of 397 Certificates earned - 40 percent higher than the county's goal.

"Earning Certified Work Ready Community status ensures our citizens have the foundation skills necessary to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies new jobs will require tomorrow," said Lil Easterlin, team leader and executive director of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. "We are transforming our economy and giving our community a competitive advantage in attracting new business and jobs."

The county's efforts were led by a team of economic development, government and education partners including: the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Sandersville Technical College - Jefferson County Center, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, Jefferson County Board of Education and Jefferson County High School, Jefferson County Family Connections, Development Authority of Jefferson County and the East Central Georgia Consortium.

Georgia's Work Ready initiative is based on a skills assessment and certification for job seekers and a job profiling system for businesses. By identifying both the needs of business and the available skills of Georgia's workforce, the state can more effectively generate the right talent for the right jobs.

For more information on the Work Ready initiative please visit the Web site at www.gaworkready.org

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