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SPCC launches career readiness certificate program
(June 5, 2007) -- South Piedmont Community College hosted the Anson County Kick-Off
Breakfast for the WorkKeys Career Readiness Certification program May 31
in the Olde Mill Conference Center at the Lockhart-Taylor Center in
Wadesboro.
Pam Gobel, statewide director of the Career Readiness Certification
program, told the Anson County industry, government and community
representatives in attendance that the certification program is a way to
enhance the workforce already in Anson County. Employers can have
employees assessed and trained to decrease skill gaps in their
workforce.
The Career Readiness Certificate will help take the guess work out of
the hiring process by showing an employer that an employee has workplace
skills in applied mathematics, reading for information and locating
information. The CRC allows employers to eliminate testing for basic
skills.
“When people come to you with this certificate, you can flip it over
and know what skills they have,” said David Hollars, executive
director of the Centralina Workforce Development Board.
“The Career Readiness Certificate program provides a way for us to
prove to the world how good North Carolina’s workforce is,” said
Gobel. “It helps employers hire and promote the right person.”
The Career Readiness Certificate is awarded based on the ACT WorkKeys
System, an EEOC and ADA compliant assessment program. Bronze, silver and
gold certificates are issued to indicate skill levels. A bronze
certified worker has the skills necessary to perform 30 percent of jobs,
a silver worker has skills required for 65 percent of jobs and a gold
worker has skills enabling him to perform 95 percent of jobs.
Gobel described the certificate as a “portable credential.”
Forty-five states have a version of the ACT WorkKeys and a state
certificate makes a person eligible for national certification.
Anna Baucom, chair of the Anson County Board of Commissioners, said the
CRC program would unify the efforts of several groups in the county who
have been working independently on economic development issues.
Local workers who want to earn a CRC will initially take a free
placement test at either SPCC or the N.C. Employment Security
Commission. Based on the results of the placement test, they will be
cleared for career readiness certification testing or referred to a
software lab at the Lockhart-Taylor Center to improve their skill set.
Workers who lack essential reading or math skills may be referred to
basic skills or developmental education programs at SPCC.
SPCC President John McKay asked that employers partner with SPCC and
the Anson County JobLink Career Center to use the CRC as part of their
hiring process, and refer workers with training needs to the college.
“The key to making the certification program work is for employers to
make this a standard for hiring,” McKay said.
Anson County Career Readiness Certification sponsors are the Anson
County JobLink Career Center, Anson County Government, Centralina
Workforce Development Board and SPCC.
To learn more about Career Readiness Certification, contact Kristi
Phifer, SPCC Work First coordinator, at 704-272-5300.
Rosemary Britt
Director, Marketing and Communications
South Piedmont Community College
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Chamber has new office manager
 (June 12, 2007) -- The Anson County Chamber of Commerce has selected Dusty Moser of Wadesboro as office manager. Moser replaces Pamela Layfield, who has moved on to the Agricultural Extension Office. Although Layfield will be missed, the Chamber wishes her the best.
Moser comes to the Chamber as a native of Pageland, S.C. After completing high school, Moser joined the U. S. Navy. She completed four years of training and was honorably discharged. She has continued to pursue a career in the field of administration. Moser said, “I feel honored to work with such a forward growing organization.”
Lynn Edwards, Chamber Director, said that she is very happy to have Moser as the new office manager. Edwards said, “Mrs. Moser is a pleasure to work with and I believe she will benefit our Chamber with her computer skills, and excitement for learning more about Anson County.”
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Fourth of July
Celebration in Uptown Wadesboro
(June 15, 2007)-- The Anson County Arts Council invites the community to recapture the fun of a family-friendly, old-fashioned 4th of July with a small-town flavor. The Arts Council is hosting the first ever Fourth of July Red, White, and Blue Bash on July 4, 2007. The event will take place in the backyard of Fancy Crafts and Selectronics from 5pm until 9pm. These two local businesses are located in the historic mercantile district of Uptown Wadesboro.
The goal of this event is to provide a family friendly environment that fosters the old fashion Fourth of July activities of days gone by. This patriotic celebration will include great food, games for the kids, a watermelon eating contest, and even a homemade ice cream making challenge. The Richmond County band Loaded Dice will be entertaining the crowd with a variety of music ranging from classic rock, country, beach, oldies, and top 40s. Community members are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets, a big appetite, and their patriotic spirit to this celebration.
“Food vendors at our 4th of July event are primarily local non-profit organizations,” said event coordinator Misty Harris. “The Arts Council wanted to give other clubs and organizations in the county the opportunity to raise funds for the important activities and programs they perform in this community.” Some of the delicious food that vendors will be selling include hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken and fish plates, fresh squeezed lemonade, and snow cones.
The homemade ice cream challenge is sure to draw a crowd on this hot summer day. Community members are encouraged to dust off their ice cream churns and come out to see if they have the “Best Homemade Ice Cream in Anson County”. Contestants must be pre-registered for this challenge. Applications are available at the Arts Council’s office on Rutherford Street in Uptown Wadesboro.
The Arts Council brings a wide variety of art and art forms to Anson County, striving to enrich the cultural life of our community. Local artists are encouraged to showcase their art mediums in our local gallery. Other programs include theatre, music, dance, visual arts, creative writing, poetry, art exhibits, special events and festivals.
To enter the homemade ice cream challenge, to become a food vendor, or to learn more about the Red, White, and Blue Bash, please call event coordinator Misty Harris at 704-475-0742.
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Anson's unemployment rate climbs to 7.1% for May
(June 26, 2007) –- Anson County’s unemployment rate climbed to 7.1% in May – ending a two-month decline. Anson’s jobless rate was 6.9% in April; 7.0% in March; 7.3% in February; and 6.9% in January.
In May, Anson County’s labor force numbered 11,324 (up 53 from April); the number of employed people was 10,519 (up 27 from April); and the number of unemployed people was 805 (up 26 from April).
The May breakdown for Anson’s neighboring counties:
- Montgomery – 12,129 labor force; 845 unemployed; a rate of
- Richmond – 20,040 labor force; 1,564 unemployed; 7.7% rate (up .3% from April).
- Stanly – 30,520 labor force; 1,564 unemployed; 5.1% rate
- Union – 87,934 labor force; 3,343 unemployed; 3.8% rate (unchanged from April).
For May, the state’s unemployment rate was 4.7% – up .2% from April. North Carolina’s labor force numbered 4,525,179 in May with 217,849 people jobless.
Statewide, Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.6% (1,587 unemployed out of a labor force of 14,955).
The civilian labor force estimates for all 100 counties are available on the Employment Security Commission's website at www.ncesc.com. For local information, call the ESC office at 704.694.6551 or visit www.ansonjoblink.com.
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