PARTNERS FORGING NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE HOLD KICKOFF EVENT

• It provides a credential for students to graduate with that is recognized by employers as having value
• It provides a tool for students to be connected to positions that fit them.  
• It also provides WorkKeys curriculum helping students improve their scores and thus have a higher earning potential.

• It provides an efficient, reliable way to identify skilled job candidates.
• It can be used as an assessment tool for existing employees seeking promotion. 
• The use of NCRC has been shown to decrease employee turnover.
• It encourages employee promotion, potentially increasing wages and allowing for a better standard of living, including a projected uptick in discretionary income to spend at local restaurants, hairdressers, mechanics and more.

• The initiative brings employers and educators to the table to collaborate.
• It provides a platform for gathering data that allows for quality of workforce to be proven – making  Fremont a desirable location to land their future business.
• Lowers turnover for companies making them more profitable and able to expand in the community which in turn builds a strong economic base of qualified long term employees.

This initiative is a way of bringing businesses, educators and workforce services together to systematize a process that will aid companies in hiring qualified workforce to the positions that fit them best.  

QUOTES:

“It’s actually the process - meeting goals and building a sustainable system with all the partners-that is the real magic for a community,” says GFDC existing business director, Barb Pierce.

“Our group of partners have been working together to educate and reach out to businesses about this initiative.  Every conversation is similar, “Do something. Do it fast.  Do it together. And make it sustainable.  This is a proven model that can help us improve and grow the pie of qualified applicants for both existing and future businesses.” Barb Pierce, GFDC

“It not hard to see that workforce is a major issue throughout our community.  We are excited to work together with GFDC, the City of Fremont and a number of local businesses to take the first steps to ensure we are matching employees with the appropriate skills to the employers in our county.” said Tara Lea, Executive Director with the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce.

Partners SUPPORTING the Work Ready Community (WRC) initiative are listed on page 1.  Individuals associated with the organization and serving on the WRC steering committee are below:

Metro Community College:  Tammy Green
Greater Fremont Development Council:  Garry Clark, Barb Pierce, Kelly Gentrup
Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce:  Tara Lea
Nebraska Department of Labor:  Heidi Young
Fremont Public School: Mark Williams, Mark Shepard, Brad Dahl
City of Fremont:  Lottie Mitchell