The Announcement of the Georgia Work Ready Initiative
August 23, 2006
Dear Fellow Georgian,
We share an important priority with each other and with you-increasing job opportunities for Georgians. That is why today we are launching a workforce initiative to help insure that Georgia is Work Ready. We have communities across Georgia that want to recruit new industry and increase economic growth. However, in order to recruit new businesses, communities must demonstrate that they have a workforce capable of filling new jobs. This initiative is designed to provide employers with documentation that we have a workforce ready to meet their needs. Our goal is to provide Georgians with the education and skills necessary for a growing Georgia.
This initiative is two fold. First, we have begun the process of creating a Georgia Work Ready Certificate that will be recognized by the business community to validate that a Georgian's skill and knowledge level meet the requirements of a specific profiled job or occupation. The assessment will be offered through Georgia's Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) system so that we can create a cooperative statewide program. We want this portable skills credential to be universally acknowledged and valued by employers across Georgia.
For Georgia communities, our goal is to provide a framework to document and validate that they have a workforce in significant numbers capable of filling 21st Century job opportunities. Demonstrating that a local workforce has the right education and job training is critical to recruit new business and industry. The Georgia Work Ready Community initiative will be county based and demonstrate a community's commitment to a workforce that graduates high school students and is work ready certified. Communities that successfully meet the criteria will be recognized by the Governor and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce as a Georgia Work Ready Community.
The process to implement these very exciting workforce initiatives has already begun. Coordinated by the Governor's Office of Workforce Development, a Request For Proposal will be released today to select an assessment tool that will be utilized statewide to qualify adults, out of school youth, and recent high school graduates as work ready. The State intends to provide the assessment and support services to all adult Georgia residents and job profiling services to the business community at no cost. Also today, the Georgia Work Ready website located at www.gaworkready.org is going live and will be able to provide you with more specific information.
As we move forward in getting Georgia ready to work, we are soliciting your input to help shape this effort into a successful employment tool. It is our goal for this initiative to assist you in your efforts to attract news jobs and build economic vitality in your community.
Thank you for your efforts to help Georgia grow and prosper.
Sincerely,
Sonny Perdue
Governor of Georgia
