 Incumbent Worker Funds Now Available!Round Two for the Incumbent Workforce Program is now Open! 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 from local businesses 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 submission of Incumbent Worker funding applications is currently open to local employers and runs through January 25, 2007. 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 additional application period will follow and will be implemented through 2007. 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 Incumbent Worker guidelines and application, please visit the Centralina WDB Website or contact Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator at (704) 348-2710. Employers interested in receiving funding for upgrading the skills of their current workforce are urged to contact Vail as soon as possible prior to submitting your application to the Board. Vail is available to assist your company in completing the application and getting it to the Board for review prior to Friday January 25, 2007.
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Centralina
Workforce Development Board, Inc. Program Associate, Stephanie
Boger, recently announced that she will be leaving her
current position with the Board as she and her family embark on
a new phase in their lives that will relocate the threesome to
High Point, North Carolina. Stephanie, her husband, Jason, and
daughter Alexis will move to High Point in January. 
The
Centralina Workforce Development Board has approved their 2007
meeting schedule. The meetings are open to anyone that wishes
to attend.|
Plastics Recycler Locates in AnsonMillions Invested Resulting in 70 Full-time Jobs Anson County is getting a new factory from Southeastern PET Resin Recyclers less than a year after losing one of its biggest employers.
Kevin Gullette, director of the Anson County Office of Economic Development, said the new plant can go a long way to helping out with the county’s unemployment rate, which at 8.4 percent is among the highest in the state. “In a rural county like Anson County, there really isn’t an opportunity to absorb those jobs,” he said. “We have to work extra hard to bring in new industries.” Gullette said the new plant is likely to grow to create about 100 new jobs. The company plans to fill 70 jobs within the next two months.
“We are very excited about doing business in Anson County,” plant general manager Matthew Krempl said in a press release. “Company investors were impressed with the efforts made on behalf of the Anson County economic development office and elected county officials.” For more information on employment with Southeastern PET Resin Recyclers, please contact Grady Kindley at the Anson County JobLink Career Center at (704) 694-6551 or by e-mail at grady.kindley@ncmail.net.
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The
company, which is investing several million dollars and creating
up to 70 new full-time jobs, is putting a plastics grinding
and washing facility in Polkton, just months after the Dan
River plant in Morven closed and put 420 workers out of a
job in February.
The
plant will be involved in turning PET raw materials into components
used in recycled bottles and food containers and will recycle
up to three tons of plastic per month.
The
nine-member council, of which Dr. Michael Finley is chairman,
will draw from the Statesville chamber’s resources.
A
Connecticut wholesale supplier of gifts, stationery and awards
has relocated to a 16,200-square-foot facility in Lincoln
County, investing $3 million in the move.
Anson
Bank & Trust
New
Ventures works to help Ansonians develop and grow businesses.
Services include one-to-one assistance to businesses, help
in certifying woman or minority-owned businesses, seminars
and workshops, a mentor program to match businesses with experts
in their field, networking opportunities with other business
owners, personalized technology and software training, telecommunications,
consulting Website development and an e-commerce portal.
Centralina
Workforce Development Board member, Dr. Don Altieri
is the director of New Ventures Business Development, Inc.
and has served on the Board since February 2004. The Centralina
Workforce Development Board is proud to have Board members,
like Dr. Don Altieri, that bring innovative ideas and are
willing to commit to helping develop a highly skilled, productive
workforce for the region.
Employment Statistics
Updated
Monthly on this E-Newsletter
Centralina
WDB Top 10 Industries With Greatest Growth In Hiring
(2004 Q3 vs. 2005 Q3)
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For more information on employment, click here
A Year of Success
Centralina Workforce Development Board Helps People Succeed
The
Centralina Workforce
Development Board has many different
roles in the community ranging from business services to job assistance.
One role of the Board is helping people in the region find the training
and employment assistance they need to be successful. The JobLink
Career Centers and partner agencies and the Workforce Investment
Act (WIA) service providers make this happen locally. Local workforce
partners lead our customers to great successes and can help them
to believe that they can accomplish things they never dreamed of.
Here are some of our success stories from 2006.
Antonio
Fox has been a participant in the Workforce Investment
Act Youth program with the Salisbury-Rowan
Community Service Council
since May of 2001. While in the program, Antonio has participated
in many components. He has successfully completed all youth goals
that he set for himself. Antonio received his high school diploma
from Salisbury High School on May 29, 2004. However, Antonio didn’t
stop there with his education. Antonio was accepted at King’s
College in the Travel and Tourism program. He received his Diploma
of completion on December 16, 2005. Antonio has now decided to enlist
into the Air Force and his plans should be completed by March of
2007. Antonio is an intelligent and ambitious young man there is
no doubt that he will be successful in the Air Force and anything
else he puts his mind to doing. Antonio is not just a success for
himself but to the community and the region. He serves as an example
of what hard work and determination can do.
The
Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with the
Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council and believes that strong
youth lead to a strong workforce.
Jamel
L. Tarver began the Workforce Investment Act Youth program
in May 2006 with the Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council and
immediately set goals for himself to obtain his GED and to go on
to secondary education at either Livingstone College or at a local
truck driving school. After pushing himself to reach those goals,
he obtained his GED within 7 months in December 2006! During the
course of his educational pursuit, he had some road blocks that
only pushed him harder to complete his goal of higher education.
Jamel is a young father that made his stumbling block a stepping
stone. Once he decided to become serious about his education it
was only a matter of time before he achieved his goal. He completed
a successful Limited Internship partnership with the Physical Plant
at Livingstone College where he learned valuable job skills and
gained practical work experience. Jamel has shown everyone, especially
himself, that he is capable of being successful at whatever he puts
his mind to. Jamel is a shinning example of what strength and courage
can do. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner
with the Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council and believes
that strong youth lead to a strong workforce.
The
Stanly County JobLink
Career Center has hosted GED classes offered by Stanly
Community College since May of 2006 This service was
originally designed to serve employees of Norwood Yarns, which closed
last winter. The classed were offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings
from 9am-12pm. Stanly Community College provided the instructor
(Sheila Morgan) and all related materials. Stanly County JobLink
provided the location. Candidates for GED classes contacted Stanly
Community College for registration and they were instructed to report
to Stanly County JobLink on the appropriate days.
Geographically, this was the only GED site in northeastern section of Stanly County and the Stanly County JobLink Career Center is an excellent resource for employment. To date, there have been 20 GED participants with 5 completions. The remainder are currently participating or have transferred into other programs offered by Stanly Community College.
Since
this service was so successful it is being continued and is now
serving other groups such as recent high school dropouts and older
adults who have become interested in completing their education.
The community has expressed tremendous support for this program.
Ms. Sheila Morgan, GED class instructor, has stated that the students
have responded very well to their attending GED classes at the Stanly
County JobLink Career Center.
This is not only a success for those that have received their GED it is also a success for the community and for the region. When organizations come together to serve the community it will always be a success. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with both the Stanly County JobLink Career Center and Stanly Community College.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is honored to partner with many different organizations and businesses across the region and the state. These few success stories shared only scratch the surface of all that the Board and their partners do for the community. However, these stories don’t just reflect what organizations can do they reflect what individuals in communities can do for themselves. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please visit the website at www.centralinaworks.com or contact David Hollars at 704-348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.
NC Research Campus
Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College (RCCC) is recruiting program heads
for two associate degrees in biotechnology it hopes will prepare
the local workforce for jobs generated by the North
Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. The program heads will
help Biotechnology Director Edward Otto develop a curriculum for
the degrees, which may debut in 2008 or 2009.
"Hiring the program heads is a top priority, because they'll bring a lot of expertise," Otto said. "Right now, I'm a party of one. Having two additional people would give us the critical mass to move things forward."
Prior to Otto's arrival, RCCC administrators and faculty met weekly for several months to share information on biotechnology and discuss the direction the college would take in training students for the emerging area of science.
"I'm pleased with the progress we've been able to make," said Senior Vice President Jerry Chandler. "Bringing Ed Otto in with the subject area expertise he has helped the group in all its efforts to flourish."
RCCC
announced Otto's hire in September. Three weeks after starting his
first day, Otto announced plans for degree programs in biotechnology
and agricultural biotechnology. Coursework will focus on research
and development support since most of the campus' first employers
will be universities, Otto said. Faculty for the programs will not
be hired until classes are about to open, which will depend on state
approval of the degrees and the construction of the college's building
on the North Carolina Research Campus.
"We really can't offer second year courses until the building is placed, because the programs are building and information intensive," Otto said. "A lot of instruction is dependent on state-of-the-art equipment."
Several
courses need to be added to accommodate the degrees. Preparing the
curriculum for consideration of state approval usually takes a year
to complete, Otto said. Applications are being accepted for the
program head of the agricultural biotechnology degree program.
The job description doesn't entail biotechnology-specific duties other than being a specialist in plant production and protection. Many of the tasks required are typical of an RCCC program head, such as overseeing daily operations, helping to recruit staff, planning class schedules, preparing budget requests and teaching a few classes.
Candidates are required to have at least two years of current agricultural biotechnology experience and have taught for at least two years. Program development experience in a community college setting wouldn't hurt either. RCCC would like to see candidates with experience in agricultural research and development, including trangenic plant production and plant tissue culture.
In terms of education, RCCC is looking for master's degrees with at least 18 graduate hours in agronomy, plant physiology, botany or other plant sciences. Graduate course work and skills related to biotechnology, molecular biology and horticulture are also preferred. The hiring committee is currently reviewing applications submitted for the program head of the general biotechnology degree. Applications were due by mid-November. The positions were posted in local newspapers, as well as major state newspapers. The jobs were also posted on biotechnology websites, such as the North Carolina Community College System's BioNetwork, www.ncbionetwork.org.
The research campus is expected to have 5,535 jobs, as well as attract an additional 9,291 biotechnology jobs to Cabarrus and Rowan counties by 2032, according to an economic analysis report by Market Street Services, Inc. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to partner with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in the development of new career fields in the area of biotechnology. The Board promotes continuing training and continuous improvement for all individuals in the region. A prepared workforce is job one for the Centralina Workforce Development Board. For more information on the NC Research Campus check out a whole page devoted to it on www.centralinaworks.com.
2007 NC County Tier Designations Recently Released
The
2007 North Carolina County Tier Designations for the William S.
Lee Quality Jobs and Business Expansion Act (2007 WSL) and the Tax
Credits for Growing Businesses Article 3J Credits (2007 3J) for
all 100 North Carolina Counties have been released and are available
for review.
The rankings and related information about the William S. Lee Quality Jobs and Business Expansion Act and Tax Credits for Growing Businesses Program can be found by visiting this website. For more information about how these designations apply to the Centralina Workforce Development Board Incumbent Workforce Development Program, please contact Vail Carter at 704.348.2717 or vcarter@centralina.org.
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Local Businesses Step Up to the Plate to Help Statesville Club
Along with J.C. Steele and Sons, a hefty donation of $250,000 was made by Piedmont Bank, a division of Yadkin Valley Bank. The funds have been earmarked for the game room and lobby. Bill Long is president and CEO of Yadkin Valley Bank and also serves as the chairman of the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont’s capital campaign committee. “There are all kinds of people who have come out of there and done good,” says Long. “Seventy-two percent come out of there and say it’s changed their life.” As contributions come in so does the merger of Iredell County programs. As a strategy to promote sustainability, S.H.A.K.E. (Success Helps All Kids Excel) and e-S.H.A.K.E. (Early Success Helps All Kids Excel) have united with the Boys and Girls Club. Both programs had to meet certain requirements, such as serving at least 100 children, offering life-enhancing programs and character development, as well as, accepting the Boys and Girls Club’s core beliefs of providing a safe place to learn and grow before becoming affiliated with this national organization. More than 300 Iredell County students from kindergarten through ninth grade are served by the S.H.A.K.E. and e-S.H.A.K.E. Programs.
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Dean of Student Services Enlightens Centralina Youth Council
Mr. Parker discussed the exceptional student attendance rate of 99% for the last academic year with approximately 60-70% of the youth participating in job shadowing or an internship experience. He stressed to the group how he works closely with the guidance counselors to recruit youth, as well as the importance of strong parent involvement. Stanly
Early College also works closely with the Stanly Life Path
Program operated by The Resource Development Center, Inc.
(funded provided by Centralina Workforce Development Board).
Mr. Parker expressed his appreciation for all the support
the Life Path Program provides for homeless young adults and
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) youth that he works with through
the Early College Program and through mentoring. Community
partners are also asked to support the program through various
avenues, including serving as a volunteer on the school improvement
committee, mentors, providing job shadowing opportunities,
financial support for scholarships, and supplies for school
projects. Stanly Early College focuses on areas of instruction
relevant to the development of Stanly County’s future
professional, educational, business and social leadership,
in a safe environment that encourages students to pursue their
career goals and achieve academic success. The Centralina
Workforce Development Board and its Youth Council are proud
to have such an innovative program in the region that strives
to keep the future workforce in Stanly County. For more information
about the Stanly Early College program, contact Curtis Parker
at 704.991.0128 or parkergc@stanly.edu.
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New Campaign Helps Eliminate the Dropout Crisis
Learning to Finish will operate three main initiatives: 1) launch 25 community level pilot projects designed to asses and reduce dropout rates, one of which has already begun in Shreveport, LA, 2) raise the profile of the dropout crisis at the community level by facilitating dialogue through its discussion guide The School Dropout Crisis and 3) encourage collaboration between community members, practitioners, and academics through an online web portal, the Learning to Finish Wiki. The Pew Partnership for Civic Change plans to select 25 communities to participate in the Learning to Finish campaign by 2008. Each community will move ahead with an initiative that corresponds to its unique interests, resources, and capabilities with an emphasis on high school transition programs. For more information or to sign up for the campaign and help your community visit http://www.pew-partnership.org. * * * * * * *
The Afterschool Community-to-Business Toolkit Now Available!
For a DVD copy of the toolkit, sponsored by the Mott Foundation and Philip Morris USA Youth Smoking Prevention, contact Susan Holbrook at 202.333.8922 or sholbrook@cvworkingfamilies.org. For more information visit www.cvworkingfamilies.org. * * * * *
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Centralina Youth Council Meeting Schedule for 2007 The Centralina Youth Council has approved their 2007 meeting schedule. The meetings are open to anyone that wishes to attend. Young adults are encouraged to attend and apply for membership. Youth service providers from throughout the region and others interested in building our future workforce are also encouraged to attend the meetings. The 2007 meeting dates are:
Thursday March 15, 2007 Tuesday April 17, 2007 – Youth Summit Speedway Club - Concord Thursday June 7, 2007 Thursday
September 20, 2007 Thursday November 15, 2007 Location for the meetings will be the Boys and Girls Club in Concord unless otherwise noted. Meeting minutes and other information regarding the Youth Council can be found at www.centralinaworks.com. For
more information on the Centralina WDB Youth Council meetings
or for information regarding attending, please contact Emily
Barnes at (704) 348-2732 or at ebarnes@centralina.org.
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The
20,000 square-foot Boys and Girls Club facility will be built
at the corner of Garner Bagnal Boulevard and Cochran Street
in Statesville. The greatly anticipated thriving club, which
will include a game room, learning and technology center,
an exercise room, ball fields, playgrounds and two basketball
courts, is scheduled to open at the end of 2007 and will cost
$4.5 million. The Centralina Youth Council looks forward to
assisting in the development and growth of innovative and
helpful programs for youth such the Boys and Girls Club. For
more information about the Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmont,
Inc, please contact Mamie Houston at 704.978.2460. 
Dean
of Students, former social worker, mentor, advocate for change,
leader – this is exactly what Curtis Parker
is to Albemarle and the surrounding communities. Mr. Parker,
Dean of Student Services at 
The
Pew Partnership for Civic Change has launched Learning to
Finish Campaign, a new project designed to address the dropout
problem in communities ready to meet this challenge as a community-wide
concern. The project has been created to increase community
dialogue and action toward eliminating America’s high
school dropout crisis. 
Corporate
Voices for Working Families
The
toolkit provides a question and answer session with Corporate
Voices President and CEO Donna Klein. Ms. Klein offers tips
and insight from her more than 25 years in business where
she outlines critical components of a high quality after school
program. The toolkit also includes statistics and information
on why business should care about after school programs; case
studies and profiles of successful after school advocates
working with business; and an after school resource guide
with a list of organizations that can provide information
on after school programs that are successfully serving working
families from around the country.
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Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting
Tuesday January 9, 2007 – 4:30 PM
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce – Kannapolis
•
Centralina WDB Youth Council meeting
Thursday January 18, 2007 – 10:00 AM
Boys and Girls Club - Concord
•
Literacy Volunteer Training
January 5 -6, 2007 - January 5 – 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM;
January 6 – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
South Piedmont Community College – 4209 Old Charlotte Highway
– Monroe
Contact: 704.226.1425
•
Small Business Opportunities: Making Buy Locally More Than A Motto
January 8, 16, 23, 2007 – 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Stanly Community College – Business Resource Center
Cost: Free Contact: Betty O’Neal
at 704.991-0142
•
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce 2007 Annual Meeting –
“The Chamber Meeting of Choice”
Friday January 19, 2007 – 11:45 AM – 2:00 PM
Embassy Suites Charlotte – Concord Resort and Convention
Center
Call for Reservations – 704.782.2000 ext. 27
•
Grant Writing and Grant Seeking
Monday January 29, 2007 – 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Stanly Community College – Business Resource Center
Cost: $5 Contact: Betty O’Neal at
704.991-0142
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Wingate University’s 2007 Annual Career Fair
Thursday February 15, 2007 – 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Wingate Campus - LaVerne Banquet Hall
To participate as a employer, please contact Beth Smedley at 704.233.8024
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Junior Achievement is looking for volunteers and sponsors in Cabarrus
& Rowan Counties:
Opportunities:
-Volunteer
-Sponsor a class or child
-Help lead the success of Junior Achievement in Cabarrus County
Contact: Stacey Richards, Junior Achievement District Manager
704.563.4858 or srichards@jacarolinas.org
NC Workforce Development Training Center Training Announcements
Career
Development Facilitator
January 23, 2007
Location: Workforce Development Training Center – Raleigh
Fee: $475.00
Career Development Facilitator
January 24, 2007
Location: Workforce Development Training Center – Raleigh
Fee: $475.00
Show-it
January 25, 2007
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Workforce Development Training Center – Raleigh
Fee: No Charge
Customer
Service Training
February 2, 2007
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Workforce Development Training Center – Raleigh
Fee: $40.00
Labor
Market Information: A Guided Tour
February 6, 2007
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Workforce Development Training Center – Raleigh
Fee: No Charge
For more information about these and other training offerings or to register for training, please visit: www.ncwdtc.com
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Visit
our website at www.centralinaworks.com
to learn more about the Centralina WDB |
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To
learn more about the Centralina Council of Governments please visit
www.centralina.org
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| CentralinaWORKS is a publication of the Centralina Workforce Development Board. If you do not wish to receive this E-Newsletter in the future, please send a return e-mail and type "REMOVE" in the Subject Line and you will be removed from our distribution list. The CWDB does not share its distribution list with other organizations. Please feel free to share this E-Newsletter with co-workers and other business associates. |