Partnering for Economic Growth
Ronnie Bryant of the Charlotte Regional Partnership Meets with Centralina WDB

The Centralina Workforce Development Board was proud to have Mr. Ronnie Bryant of the Charlotte Regional Partnership as the featured speaker at the WDB meeting on December 13, 2005 at the Boys & Girls Club in Concord. Ronnie's presentation was well received by the Board.

As President and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership (CRP), Ronnie Bryant leads the economic development organization that promotes the 16-county Charlotte USA region as a premier location for businesses considering expansion or relocation. With more than 30 years of technical, managerial and economic development expertise, Bryant is nationally known for his proven track record of establishing and implementing successful economic development programs, with a strong emphasis on existing industry expansion and retention, regionalism and marketing.

The Charlotte Regional Partnership is a nonprofit, public/private economic development organization dedicated to the growth and prosperity of the region. The CRP region includes 16 counties in two states (twelve in North Carolina, four in South Carolina). The CRP recently finished conducting study groups to discuss issues for their 2005-2010 Strategic Vision Plan that will be released early next year.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board welcomes Ronnie to the region and looks forward to working with him in collaboration to help build the workforce in the region. For more information on the collaboration between the Charlotte Regional Partnership and the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or at dhollars@centralina.org.

Centralina WDB Assists Cabarrus Literacy Council in Fighting Illiteracy

The Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) presented the Cabarrus Literacy Council with a check for $1,213.02 on Wednesday November 30, 2005. The contribution was given to the Council to assist with literacy efforts in Cabarrus County. Bob VanGorden, Centralina WDB Chair and David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director presented the check. Cabarrus Literacy Council Board President Ed Hosack accepted the check on behalf of the Literacy Council. The funds will be used to assist with one-on-one and small group tutoring, as well as, teaching adults to read, write, speak and understand the English language.

One of the primary objectives of the Centralina Workforce Development Board's Impact 2010 Strategic Plan is to improve functional literacy. The Board will help facilitate these efforts in the region by developing an effective workforce through accessing local resources that promote educational and occupational skills and accessibility to relevant skill training opportunities for all workers. It is also a value and belief of the Board that functional literacy undergirds a successful workforce system. Through collaborative efforts and partnership with Literacy Councils, the Board directly promotes lifelong learning and touches those citizens in need.

Coordinating workforce, education, and community resources to put an end to illiteracy is an effective approach and only one of the roles that the Centralina Workforce Development Board plays across the region. For more information about all of the roles of the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or dhollars@centralina.org.


David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director (left) and Bob VanGorden, Centralina WDB Chair (right) present a check for more than $1,000 to Ed Hosack, President of the Cabarrus Literacy Council (center) to help improve functional literacy in Cabarrus County.

The Next Million-Dollar Baby
$1 Million Training Lab at Central Piedmont Community College


Integrated Systems Technology (IST) in Advanced Manufacturing is a new, high-demand career opportunity that involves cross training in the areas of electrical, mechanical, and electronic systems. More industries are becoming much more dependent upon the use of high-tech equipment that involves multiple, integrated systems. It is important that companies be able to recruit and employ individuals who know how to operate, troubleshoot, and maintain the high-tech equipment.

A new program at Central Piedmont Community College, Integrated Systems Technology is targeted to train workers in this new career. To this end, a new $1 million dollar Advanced Manufacturing training lab has been opened at CPCC's main campus in Charlotte. Currently the program is targeted to Incumbent Workers and Apprentices with training for Dislocated Workers starting in January. Customized Incumbent Worker training is currently available to meet the specific needs of an industry. The IST Program offers training in industrial power, electrical motor control, hydraulic troubleshooting and more. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to partner with CPCC in introducing the training program to businesses and potential trainees throughout the region. Chad Ray from CPCC presented information on IST to the eight Centralina JobLink Career Center managers at their quarterly meeting on December 13. Information brochures and posters regarding the program have also been distributed to the local JobLink Career Centers.

For more information on the Integrated Systems Technology Program at Central Piedmont Community College please contact Dave Ross at (704) 330-6215 or at dave.ross@cpcc.edu, Terence Fagan at (704) 330-6204 or at terence.fagan@cpcc.edu, or your local JobLink Career Center click here.


A student in the IST Program at CPCC trains for
his new career.


The Centralina Workforce Development Board Meeting Schedule for 2006

The Centralina Workforce Development Board has approved their 2006 meeting schedule. The meetings are open to everyone that wishes to attend.

Tuesday January 10, 2006

Tuesday February 14, 2006

Tuesday April 11, 2006

Tuesday June 13, 2006

Tuesday August 8, 2006

Tuesday October 10, 2006

Tuesday November 14, 2006

Location for the meetings will be the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis unless otherwise noted. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board meetings or for information regarding attending, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or at dhollars@centralina.org.

Regional Happenings

  • Congratulations to Bob Wright President of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, whom the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives has named the 2005 North Carolina Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year. Bob is a big supporter of workforce development efforts in Rowan County.

  • Congratulations to Linda Kappauf of South Piedmont Community College who was recently promoted to Director of Human Resource Development (HRD) at the college. Linda is a tireless worker for helping our JobLink partners build a better workforce in Anson and Union counties.

  • Terry Orell is the new Interim Director of the Greater Statesville Development Corporation. Terry is a retired senior executive of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, where he worked for 20 years.

  • The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Iredell JobLink Career Centers have distinctive new ads on page 36 of Images of Mooresville, North Carolina magazine. To visit the magazine's website click here to view the ads in the Business Section.

  • Congratulations goes out to Centralina Workforce Development Board staff Stephanie Boger and her husband, Jason, on the arrival of their first child! Carolyn Alexis Boger arrived Thursday December 15, 2005 at 2:47 AM. She weighs 6 pounds and 9 ounces and is 21 inches long. We send Stephanie, Jason, Alexis and their family the best of wishes!

Stephanie Boger holding Carolyn Alexis Boger, born on December 15, 2005.

Employment Statistics
(Updated Monthly on this E-Newsletter)

November 2005
(Source: NC Employment Security Commission)
County
Unemployment Rate
Persons Employed
Anson
7.0%
10,557
Cabarrus
4.3%
76,495
Iredell
4.9%
67,338
Lincoln
5.4%
34,095
Rowan
5.1%
66,077
Stanly
5.3%
28,009
Union
4.0%
77,077

For more information on employment, click here.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is Your Source for 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 applications 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 round for applications for funding is currently open to local employers and runs through January 24, 2006. 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. One more application period is to follow and will be implemented in the spring of 2006. In the first round, the Centralina WDB received and awarded 5 local businesses contracts to train a total of 383 employees with $162,624 in total economic development investment with these existing businesses.

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 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 or vcarter@centralina.org.

Will America's Next Top Model Show up at Your Work Place?
Students and Staff Take the Runway at SPCC

South Piedmont Community College conducted "Dress for Success" shows in the month of November for all of their students and staff. The event was held at both of the South Piedmont Community College campuses, the Old Charlotte Highway campus in Monroe and at their L.L. Polk campus in Polkton. The shows featured volunteer models that demonstrated to everyone "what to" and "what not to" wear for job interviews. South Piedmont Community College combined both students and staff to present the show in a fun and entertaining way for all of the attendees.

Many local businesses such as La Vida Mocha, The Silver Lining Boutique, the Patriot's Café, and B.C. Moore's retailers participated and donated door prizes. The owner and staff at Indulge Salon and Spa in Monroe also contributed their time to complete the hair and make-up for the models. The "Dress for Success" shows were such a success that South Piedmont Community College has decided to make it an annual event.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board provided goodie bags with useful items for the volunteer models. The Union County JobLink Career Center also donated items for the models. The Centralina WDB is proud to partner with South Piedmont Community College, as well as all the other participating businesses to help prepare youth for successful careers. For more information on the "Dress for Success" shows please contact Linda Kappauf at (704) 290-5215 or lkappauf@spcc.edu.


 Volunteer models at SPCC showed students what types of clothes to wear to job interviews.

*******
 Youth See A Light
in the Shadows
Anson Youth Participate in
Job Shadowing

Youth from the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program at Anson High School in the Skills for Success Class participated in a Job Shadowing day at the local Wal-Mart in Anson County. Each youth spent the day shadowing different positions in the store, such as the bakery, pharmacy, furniture department, and automotive department. The youth even got to participate in the store's pep rally for their employees.

"Overall this was a very productive event in that the youth were exposed to numerous things and had a marvelous time," Manzell Spencer WIA case manager stated about the youth's experience. Amanda Randall, a youth from the Skills for Success Class, stated that "Overall I really enjoyed our trip to Wal-Mart and maybe someday I'll have a job there."

The Centralina Workforce Development Board provides the funding for WIA programs for youth in seven counties. For more information on the WIA Youth Program in Anson County please contact Manzell Spencer at (704) 694-2308 or by spencer.manzell@anson.k12.nc.us.

Anson High School students enrolled in the Skills for Success Class participated in a Job Shadowing day at the local Wal-Mart.

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Save the Date!
National Job Shadow Day 2006
Thursday February 2, 2006 Youth Participating in Groundhog
Job Shadow Day

Job shadowing is an activity designed to give kids the unique opportunity of an up-close look at the world of work and provide the answer to the commonly asked question, "Why do I have to learn this?" Beginning with a nationwide kickoff on Thursday, February 2, 2006, and continuing throughout the school year, students across America will "shadow" workplace mentors as they go through a normal day on the job. The program invites students to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace.

For more information on the National Job Shadow Day please visit www.jobshadow.org or you can contact Emily Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or at ebarnes@centralina.org. Look for more information on how the youth in the Centralina region will participate in the National Job Shadow Day in the upcoming issues of the Centralina Workforce Development Board Newsletter.

*******
Grant Opportunity!
Hewlett-Packard Offers Grant for
K-16 Educators

Hewlett-Packard (HP) believes that technology, when used effectively in teaching can have a positive impact on student learning. Due to this belief HP is offering a Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative designed to support the innovative use of mobile technology in K-16 education, and to help identify K-12 public schools and two - and four-year colleges and universities that Hewlett-Packard might support with future grants. In 2006, HP will award over $8 million in cash and equipment to schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico through this grant.

Requests for Proposals, with specific details about the grant goals and application process, are available now at http://grants.hp.com/us/programs/tech_teaching/. The application process will begin on Monday January 2, 2006 and can be done through their website (http://grants.hp.com/us/programs/tech_teaching/). Deadline for submitting proposals for the Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative is Wednesday February 15, 2006. Award announcements will be made no later than May 1, 2006.



News You Can Use
Upcoming Events:

  • Centralina Workforce Development Board Meeting
    Tuesday January 10, 2006 - 4:30 PM
    South Piedmont Community College - Monroe
  • Centralina WDB Youth Council Meeting
    Thursday January 19, 2006 - 10:00 AM
    Boys and Girls Club - Concord
  • Centralina WDB Community Relations Committee Meeting
    Thursday January 26, 2006 - 4:00 PM
    Southern Container Corporation - Mooresville
  • NC Workforce Development Training Center:
    Training Announcement
    Customer Service & Satisfaction Training
    Wednesday - Thursday January 11 - 12, 2006
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
    Location: Cumberland County JobLink Career Center
    Fee: $35
    For more information visit www.ncwdtc.com
  • Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Network
    Practical, solution-oriented sessions devoted to YOUR business challenges!
    2006 Business Dialogue Schedule
    Dates: Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.
    January 11, March 8, May 10, July 12, September 13, & November 8
    Facilitator: Marty Weaver, Business Network Chair with Clearly Carolina Water & Coffee
    Register: 704.782.2000 ext.26 or www.cabarruschamber.org/News&Events/Calendar
  • Junior Achievement is looking for volunteers and sponsors in Cabarrus County:
    Opportunities:
    -Volunteer
    -Sponsor a class or child
    -Help lead the success of JA in Cabarrus County
    Contact: Michelle Punch, Junior Achievement Director of Programs
    704.563.4857 or mpunch@jacarolinas.org

Visit our website at www.centralinaworks.com to learn more about the Centralina WDB
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