(Left to right) Carolyn Helms, Nick Gennett, Dan Peninger, David Hollars, and Jeanie Moore at the 2005 Workforce Innovations Conference
in Philadelphia.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Receives National Recognition of Excellence

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, a long-time JobLink partner and supporter of training efforts sponsored by the Centralina Workforce Development Board, received the top Recognition of Excellence (ROE) honor in the "Recognizing Special Populations in the Workforce" category at the Workforce Innovations 2005 Conference on July 11-13 in Philadelphia. The Employment and Training Administration presents ROE honors in five categories. The "Recognizing Special Populations in the Workforce" category addresses the critical need to find ways to integrate every available worker into the labor force. Honorees in this category provide effective services to special populations, including individuals with disabilities, those with limited English proficiency, homeless individuals and migrant farm workers.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco presented the second annual ROE honors, which recognize workforce investment system programs from around the country that have achieved outstanding success. Honorees were selected from more than 100 applicant organizations nationwide. "This year's Recognition of Excellence honorees exemplify the workforce system's capacity to develop new approaches for equipping workers with the skills necessary to compete in the global economy," said DeRocco. "These projects and the people behind them offer examples of success that colleagues in education and job training can replicate to meet workforce needs throughout the country."

The local JobLink Career Centers, in partnership with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, the Employment Security Commission, Cabarrus County Department of Social Services, and the Centralina Workforce Development Board, established a JobLink Career Center - Resource Service Center at the old Pillowtex Plant 4 in Kannapolis. Representatives from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, ESC, Cabarrus County DSS, and other agencies worked at the center to assist the former Pillowtex employees with job search, unemployment insurance, retraining options, adult basic education assistance, resume preparation, and access to other services to help transition the individuals into employment. The center's career resource room provided computers that individuals could use to look for jobs.

The Pillowtex project is now a model for the entire country on how to coordinate local, state, and federal resources in handling massive layoffs. It has been recognized by the US Department of Labor as one of the best examples of agencies at all levels working together to help tackle and solve local issues. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud of our association with great JobLink partners such as Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. We are honored to be a part of their success.

Taking Care of Business
Business Expos Offer Companies a Chance to Shine

The Mooresville-South Iredell and Union County Chambers of Commerce are both planning Business and Technology Expos targeted to help employers market their business to hundreds of prospective clients. And the local JobLink Career Centers in Mooresville and Monroe are planning an active part in making these events happen.

The Union County Chamber of Commerce will host their fifth annual Business and Technology Expo on September 14, 2005 at Dale Jarrett Ford on U.S. Hwy 74 in Indian Trail. The theme of this year's expo is RACING Toward Progress 2005 and the event is held in conjunction with Monroe-Union County Industrial Appreciation week. Local businesses are invited to exhibit and showcase their products and services to other companies and the public. More than 80 exhibitors are scheduled to attend. Attendees are eligible for exciting door prizes and are encouraged to bring their children to enjoy the Toddler Pit Stop. Admission to the Expo is free. Additionally, the Union County JobLink Career Center will be one of the exhibitors. For more information please contact the Union County Chamber of Commerce at 704.289.4567 or info@unioncountycoc.com.

The Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce will host their "2005 Business Expo and Taste of the Town" on Wednesday October 5, 2005 from 11 am - 7 pm at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville. The purpose of the Expo is to allow businesses the opportunity to display their services and products, distribute brochures, and meet new and potential customers. Caterers and restaurants will also display services and give the public a chance to sample their foods. Additionally, the Iredell County JobLink Career Center - Mooresville center will be one of the exhibitors. For more information or to sign up for the event visit www.mooresvillenc.org or contact the Chamber at 704.664.3898.

Centralina Workforce Development Board Chairman's Award Presented to a True Workforce Professional - Linda Burton

Congratulations to Ms. Linda Burton, regional representative for the NC Employment Security Commission, who is the recipient of the 2005 Centralina Workforce Development Board Chairman's Award. Ms. Burton was honored at the Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting on August 9, 2005 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. Each year, the award is presented to a deserving individual for outstanding dedication and service in workforce development.

Linda Burton has worked for the North Carolina Employment Security Commission for 35 years. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help individuals who have been displaced from the workforce and need assistance with finding another job or going back to school. Linda has seen it all from CETA, to JTPA, to WIA and she has done her job with the utmost caring, concern, and professional manner.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board appreciates all that Linda Burton has done to contribute to workforce development throughout the region and will deeply miss her as a friend and leader in making a difference in the lives of citizens in our region. Congratulations to Linda for her outstanding work!

Centralina WDB Chair, Bob VanGorden, presents Linda Burton with the 2005 Chairman's Award

Mark your Calendar!

The Independent Tribune will sponsor a Career Fair on Tuesday September 20, 2005 from 9 am - 3 pm at the Cannon Memorial YMCA in Kannapolis. For more information please contact Suzy Perkins at 704.789.9125.

Employment Statistics
(Updated Monthly on this E-Newsletter)

July 2005
(Source: NC Employment Security Commission)
County
Unemployment Rate
Persons Employed
Anson
8.9%
10,512
Cabarrus
4.8%
76,167
Iredell
5.4%
67,839
Lincoln
6.6%
33,530
Rowan
5.8%
65,561
Stanly
6.4%
27,946
Union
4.7%
76,746

For more information on employment, click here


Calling All
Businesses!
The Centralina Workforce Development Board Has Your Training Funds

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 grant applications for the 2005-2006 Incumbent Workforce Development training. The Incumbent Workforce Development training is designed to upgrade employees' skills and increase companies' competitiveness in the global marketplace.
The first application round for funding is currently open to local employers and runs through September 23, 2005. The maximum amount of funds available per business is $37,500. Since the grants are competitive, local businesses are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

A total of $3,000,000 in Workforce Investment Act funds has been designated by the Governor's Commission on Workforce Development to fund the Incumbent Worker training in North Carolina this fiscal year. Two additional application periods are to follow and will be implemented through 2006.

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 2005 revised guidelines and application please visit http://www.centralinaworks.com/whatshot.cfm or contact Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator at 704.348.2710.

Calling All Young People! Mini-grants Now Available to Benefit Peers

The NC Youth Advisory Council, which functions under the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office, will administer state-funded mini-grants to youth groups seeking funds for community projects. North Carolina organizations composed of young people, ages 13 to 18, who want to implement programs to benefit their peers are eligible to apply. A total of $6,500 is available and grants awarded average $500 each.

The program offers youth valuable opportunities to develop program ideas, write and screen grant proposals, and implement program objectives. The State Youth Council, comprised of teenagers from local youth councils across North Carolina, will screen applications in November. The Youth Advisory Council will also review applications before grants are awarded.

The deadline to submit an application is
5 p.m. on Friday September 23, 2005.

For more information contact Cynthia Giles of the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office at 919.733.9296. The application may be downloaded from the Web site: www.doa.state.nc.us/yaio/mgrants.htm.

*******
"Show Me the Money"
Statewide Financial Literacy Youth Conference
Planned for October

The Southeast Regional Financial Education Center (SERFEC) will host its 2nd Annual Financial Literacy Youth Conference on Saturday October 8, 2005, at the Jane S. McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh.

The event will feature workshops on budgeting, banking and savings, credit and investing, as well as include the "Real World Event." Here, participants are challenged to develop a budget based on various education and employment levels while ensuring everyday needs and situational crises are met. Additionally, CitiFinancial employees will facilitate a workshop on using credit wisely, and GMAC will show participants five keys to smart vehicle financing.

The cost for students to attend this event is $10.00 per participant, which includes all workshops, training materials, continental breakfast and lunch. In the spirit of giving, we are asking all registrants to join in our efforts to help others during the upcoming holiday season by donating five canned goods that will be given to the Food Bank of North Carolina. Each student participant who donates five canned goods the morning of the conference will be refunded $5.00 in exchange for their contribution to such a worthwhile cause.

SERFEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide K-12 and college freshmen statewide with a working knowledge of basic personal finance. For more information or to register for the conference contact Angela Towns at 919.539.2069 or serfec@yahoo.com.


Drop Everything
And Read
Literacy Council Sponsors
2005 DEAR Day Event

The Literacy Council of Union County will host the 2005 DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Event on Thursday September 8, 2005 from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. The event will take place at the main library in Monroe, as well as, the Waxhaw, Lois Morgan Edwards Memorial, and Union West Regional Library branches. The event has been planned to celebrate International Literacy Day. Special guests will read selections aloud in 15 minute increments at each library beginning at 11:30 am and concluding at 1:30 pm. The public is encouraged to bring a bag lunch to the closest library DEAR Day Event and enjoy the selections being read.

This year's theme is Open a Book-Open a World. A variety of guest readers, including public officials, community leaders, local authors, Rotary Members, South Piedmont Community College Representatives, and local television personalities, will open the world to the public through their interesting and entertaining selections.

For more information about the event and the Literacy Council of Union County please contact Linda Moyer at 704.226.1425 and visit www.literacyunion.org. Please look for more information about regional literacy events in the September Edition of the Centralina E-Newsletter.


News You Can Use
Upcoming Events:

  • Centralina Workforce Development Board Meeting
    Tuesday October 11, 2005 - 4:30 PM
    Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce - Kannapolis

  • Centralina WDB Youth Council Meeting
    Thursday September 15, 2005 - 10:00 AM
    Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County - Concord
  • Centralina WDB Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
    Tuesday September 20, 2005 - 1:30 PM
    Carolina Carpet Care & Restoration - Concord
  • Centralina WDB Community Relations Committee Meeting
    Thursday September 29, 2005 - 3:30 PM
    Win Cup, Inc. - Mooresville
    *PLEASE NOTE DATE & TIME CHANGE
  • Union County JobReady Partnership Meeting
    Thursday September 8, 2005 - 12:00 PM
    South Piedmont Community College - Old Charlotte Highway Campus - Monroe
  • Stanly County JobReady Partnership Meeting
    Tuesday September 20, 2005 - 11:30 AM
    Stanly Memorial Hospital - Albemarle
  • Rowan-Salisbury BizEd Connect Meeting
    Friday September 23, 2005 - 12:00 PM
    Rowan-Cabarrus Community College - Salisbury
 
  • NC Workforce Development Training Center:
    Training Announcement
  A Training Series for Business Services Staff
September 13 - 15, 2005
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Clarion Airport Hotel
Greensboro, NC
Registration Fee: $225
For more information visit www.ncwdtc.com
   
  WIA Youth Programs: A Youth Development Approach
- September 14, 2005
Pitt Community College - Greenville, NC
- September 20, 2005
Workforce Development Training Institute - Raleigh, NC
- September 21, 2005
Western Piedmont Community College - Morganton, NC
All sessions will be held from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. The registration fee is $55.00. For more information contact the Workforce Development Training Center at 919.329.5588 or register online at www.ncwdtc.com.
   
  NC Workforce Development Partnership Conference
October 26 -28, 2005
Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel / Joseph Koury Convention Center
Greensboro, NC
Registration Fee: $160 (by September 26, 2005)
For more information visit www.ncwdtc.com

Visit our website at www.centralinaworks.com to learn more about the Centralina WDB
To send a comment about our E-Newsletter, click here.
To learn more about the Centralina Council of Governments please visit www.centralina.org
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