Western Wyoming launches new workforce program

Western Wyoming Community College recently launched its work ready community initiative.

The initiative strives to see Sweetwater County recognized with an ACT Work Ready Community that recognizes ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate. ACT is most commonly known for its college entrance exams many high school students take during the junior and senior years.

The certificate allows employers to match specific job and skill sets with employees. Employees take a test measuring their aptitude in a number of areas such as reading comprehension and mathematics, which are then ranked. Those taking the test are then awarded one of four certificate levels, from bronze to platinum.

Employers then can use the data from the test to determine if a potential candidate for a position would fit in with the requirements of a job.

Currently, those interested in taking the test can do so for free through WWCC. The college is pushing to have local employers at least recognize the ACT program as an indicator of workforce skills.

Carole Shafer, director of workforce and community development at WWCC, said the college has given more than a dozen presentations about the initiative to various employers and groups throughout the county. Recently, the Sweetwater County Commissioners agreed to recognize the initiative. WWCC needs to have at least 85 employers recognize the certificate and the initiative before December 2015, otherwise the county can’t be recognized as a work ready community.

One of the benefits of being recognized is it would provide some incentive for companies to expand into the county. Shafer said “Site Selector Magazine,” a trade publication for economic development companies, claim its members place having the work ready designation in the top five things they look for when choosing a location to expand into.

A site selector is often a third party representing a large corporation seeking an area to expand into. The corporation wouldn’t send a company representative because news of a visit from somebody representing Target or Dillard’s because news would quickly spread around a community.

Companies send site selectors to talk with city and county officials about the needs their client has in regards to how much acreage their building would take, the unemployment rate and other economic indicators.

Shafer said employers interested in being part of the initiative can join by contacting the college or a member of the Sweetwater County workforce initiative team, or by visiting http://www.workreadycommunities.ord/business/forms.