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A
Winning Combination The Incumbent Workforce Development Program is a winning combination for both employees and the employer. It provides a better-trained workforce and the opportunity for industry to expand. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is pleased to announce that two additional employers have received funding to train existing employees through the Incumbent Workforce Development Program. Berry Tri-Plas Corporation and WinCup, Inc. have been awarded a total of $67,098 to upgrade the skills of their current workforce. This brings the new total of local economic investment funds for 2004-2005 to $637,338 with 20 local businesses in the region. Berry Tri-Plas Corporation is located in Monroe and manufactures injection molded plastic packaging products. The company will receive $29,598 from the Centralina Workforce Development Board to implement a variety of training to employees through South Piedmont Community College, Polymers Center of Excellence, and National Seminars Group. Training will include Business Presentation and Writing Skills, Injection Molding, English as a Second Language, Six Sigma Green Belt Training, and various computer skills. Berry Tri-Plas will benefit in several ways from the training, including improved employee skill sets, lower employee turnover rates, and reduced machine downtime. WinCup, Inc. is located in Mooresville and produces and distributes plastic disposable cups, plates and cutlery for the food industry. The company will receive $37,500 from the Centralina Workforce Development Board for training for current employees. Injection Molding, as well as, teambuilding & time management skills, sexual harassment, and AutoCAD training will be conducted. NC State Industrial Extension Service, Polymers Center of Excellence, ProSource, and The Employers Association will be involved with training. The training will help WinCup be able to reduce manufacturing cycle times, improve efficiencies, reduce downtime and improve quality, which in turn will reduce waste. Incumbent Workforce Development Program Funds for the next fiscal year (2005-2006) will not be available until August 2005. The Centralina WDB will work with local businesses to submit new applications and for those who may wish to resubmit at that time. Please visit www.centralinaworks.com for updates regarding the program. For more information please contact David Hollars @ 704.348.2717 or dhollars@centralina.org. Anson
County Sees Its Future in Small Business and Entrepreneurs
New Ventures Business Development Center North Carolina's e-NC Authority has selected
Anson County
for a $400,000 planning and implementation The New Ventures Business Development Center will target as its market small homegrown business, which is the prime source of new jobs in the 21st century. Small businesses employ half of all private sector workers, pay 43% of the total private payroll in the United States, create more than 50% of the gross domestic product, account for 53% of all home-based businesses, and CREATE 80% OF NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW JOBS. (Statistics: 2003 Small Business Administration). The New Ventures Business Development Center will provide
a one-stop for small business development with programs and
services to include:
Benefits of the New Ventures Business Development Center will include microenterprise development (helping entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses that will provide or enhance a living wage that will decrease assistance funding), new job creation, support and grow existing small businesses, and increase the commercial tax base. It compliments local economic development efforts by focusing on areas underserved by current recruitment and retention efforts. The center's digital literacy training and public access terminals equal a more skilled, attractive workforce for potential recruits and existing businesses. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to support the efforts to establish the New Ventures Business Development Center in Anson County. One of the Board's key workforce goals is to promote entrepreneurialism and small business growth in the region. The Board plans to use the Anson County center as a model for replication. For more information on the New Ventures Business Development Center contact Fred Sparger at 704.272.7635 or fsparger@spcc.edu. The purpose of the e-NC initiative is to use the Internet as a tool for helping people to improve their quality of life. For more information visit http://www.e-nc.org/.
The 18th Annual North Carolina Employment Security Commission (ESC) Employer Awards Luncheon was held on May 19, 2005 at the Kannapolis Country Club. Local employers from the Centralina region were recognized for their positive work with the JobLink Career Centers in their county as well as their contributions to North Carolina's economy. ESC Chairman, Harry E. Payne, Jr. presented the Employer of the Year Awards to the following companies:
Congratulations to all the employers and their employees for their contributions to workforce development in the Centralina region. 
Congratulations to Clay Andrews who is the new Business Recruiter with the Cabarrus Regional Partnership. Clay can be contacted at 704.782.4000.
David Bradley is the new Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce President. Congratulations to David! He can be reached at 704.873.2892 or dbradley@statesvillechamber.org. Arlene Hankins has recently been named director of Rowan Information and Referral Agency in Salisbury. Congratulations to Arlene! She can be reached at 704.638.3131 or dir@rowaninfo.org. Mr. Ed Hosack will assume the position of Executive Director at Cooperative Christian Ministry in Concord starting in June. He can be reached at 704.786.4709. Gary Steele recently graduated from Leadership Rowan. Gary is employed with Rowan Helping Ministries. Gary can be reached at 704.637.6838 or gsteele@rowanhelpingministries.org. Congratulations to Nancy Rummage with Stanly County Vocational Rehabilitation and Centralina Workforce Development Board Member, Mary Walls! Nancy has been selected to receive the 2005 VR Superstar Award in the area of Creativity and Innovation for the Western Region. Mary was selected to receive the Leadership Award for the Western Region. Both ladies will compete for the State Award in those categories.
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Employment
Statistics
For more information on employment, click here  Vital ICATS Transportation Expansion Creates Greater Job Access for Citizens of Iredell County Many people living in Iredell County experience barriers to employment for one reason or another. Work schedules can vary, childcare issues can compound travel, and the residential location, often rural areas, can pose major difficulties when getting to work. To help reduce barriers and increase the opportunities for residents to get to and from work, the Iredell County Transportation System or ICATS was recently awarded funding to help expand transportation services for job-related activities from the North Carolina Department of Transportation under the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program. Iredell County is one of 11 transit systems in North Carolina to receive this funding. The Job Access and Reverse Commute Program will increase the number of ICATS vehicles in remote areas of Iredell County. It will expand the hours of operation to coincide with the hours that people work and provide transportation for parents with children needing childcare. The program will enhance service to people with disabilities and work to make necessary accommodations for that population. Also, to increase mobility for those who work outside of Iredell County, ICATS will now be able to provide direct connection to the CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) Commuter Bus Service. Efficient and effective transit services will not only assist persons in overcoming barriers to employment, it will also have a direct economic impact on the county. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to have worked with local JobLink partners in the preparation of the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program grant application. The County plans to implement the expansion in October 2005. For more information about ICATS and the new programs contact Transportation Director, Ben Garrison at 704.832.2342 or bgarrison@co.iredell.nc.us.
It's Time to Nominate those Outstanding Adults, Youth, Employers, and JobLink Staff in the Centralina Region! Governor's Awards for Excellence in Workforce Development
**Nominations
are due to the Centralina Workforce Development Board by Friday,
June 17, 2005. We
know
that
you
work
with
outstanding
adults,
youth,
and
employers,
so
don't
delay
-
nominate
today! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
grant
for a business development center. The effort in Anson County
is the New Ventures Business Development Center.
The grant continues the efforts started in April 2003 and
offers a long-term, sustained effort starting in the second
quarter 2005 based on a comprehensive business plan with an
objective of self-sustainability. North Carolina's e-NC Authority
has already created four other successful business development
centers statewide.
Congratulations
to Ms. Dawn Boyer! Dawn was recently hired as the new Assistant
Manager at the Lincoln County JobLink Career Center. You can reach
her at 
Invite
a represent-ative from the Centralina Workforce Development
Board. To arrange for a speaker please visit 
Youth
at Work is a free outreach event conducted by the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to
educate young workers about their equal opportunity
rights and responsibilities. The Youth at Work Initiative
is EEOC's commitment to promote equal employment opportunity
for the nation's next generation of workers. EEOC
is conducting "Youth at Work" outreach events for
high school students, youth organizations and small
businesses that employ young workers. For more information
on local outreach programs contact Billy C. Sanders,
Program Manager with the Charlotte District Office
at 704.344.6735 or 
The
6th North Carolina Men Are Nurturers, Too! Statewide
Fatherhood Conference is a forum designed to stimulate
dialogue about emerging father-centered initiatives
and state and national best practice models in family
support services. The Conference will be held June
9-10, 2005 at the Raleigh Convention & Conference
Center Complex. For more information or to register
for the conference call 919.515.7614 or visit 
Take
a moment and think to yourself and ask, "Who has shown
outstanding efforts and commitment to workforce development
in my community? It may be an adult or youth that you have
recently helped to get a job or maybe it is a local business
that has gone above and beyond the call of duty to donate
employee time in the community and has shown exemplary hiring
practices. Whatever it may be, now is the time to nominate
that person or employer for the North Carolina Governor's
Award for Excellence in Workforce Development. Nominations
can be made for the following categories: