Hempstead County Economic Delevopment Board Recognizes the importance of being a work ready communty

Hope, AR— Hempstead County Economic Development announced today, they have engaged in the process to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community. This practice demonstrates their commitment to developing a strong workforce pipeline, desirable to employers, economic developers and current and future citizens of the county.

The ACT® Work Ready Communities (ACT® WRC) initiative empowers states, regions and counties with data, processes and tools that drive economic growth by identifying skills gaps and quantifying the skill level of their workforce. Participants leverage the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC®) to measure and close skills gaps and build common frameworks that link, align and match their workforce development efforts.

To begin the Work Ready Communities process, Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation President, Steve Harris and EDC Board Member and Quorum Court Member, Steve Atchley, attended the ACT Work Ready Communities Boot Camp, an executive leadership and training program designed and led by ACT to initiate, deploy, and drive carefully tailored efforts to improve the county’s work readiness. Leaders meet with local employers, policymakers, educators and economic developers to reach established goals and build a sustainable WRC model to fit community needs.

Hempstead County Judge, Jerry Crain said our community is glad to participate in this proactive process to better our labor force and help local employers and their employees.

“Congratulations to Hempstead for joining this initiative, and a growing list of counties dedicated to building a robust workforce,” said ACT Regional Manager, Cheri Tune. “The determination of Hempstead’s leadership to engage in this process demonstrates active partnerships between all stakeholders in the community and will provide the county with an economic development advantage, helping them stand out nationally for their workforce development efforts.”

For more information on this initiative, go to www.workreadycommunities.org and view all of ACT’s workforce solutions at www.act.org/workforce

Steve Lance, with Lance & Associates Real Estate signs up to support the ACT Work Ready Program