Lauderdale County Achieves ACT Work Ready Community designation
After the ACT Work Ready Community announcement are Craig Hitt, Rob Smith, Dr. Tom Huebner, Dr. Amy Carter, Allen Tyra, Dr. John-Mark Cain, and Randy Sharman.
Lauderdale County is now an ACT Work Ready Community.
Local and state officials, including those in the education, business, and government arenas, announced it at a press conference at Downtown Meridian’s Dumont Plaza.
ACT Work Ready Communities initiative assists an area, region, or state in developing its workforce pipeline to provide skilled workers for employers. The framework allows each participating community to quantify and improve the skill levels of its workforce through a standardized workforce skill credential, the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate.
“This designation is a testament to the powerful collaboration between our educational, governmental, and business entities. Together, we’re building a stronger, brighter future for our community,” said Craig Hitt, City of Meridian Community Development Director.
“We’re excited Lauderdale County has received this designation and proud to have partnered with others to achieve the benchmarks for this certification,” said Meridian Community College President Dr. Tom Huebner. The MCC-Riley Workforce Development Center also offers testing for students and community residents.
Hitt noted ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate also serves as a recruiting tool for hiring talented employees to fill skilled positions. “It’s also an asset companies look for when determining where to relocate or open new businesses.”
To begin the certification process, Lauderdale County leaders attended a leadership and training program hosted by ACT, and during the session, they developed their goals by building awareness, cooperation, and commitment with local employers, policymakers, and educators.
Students in Meridian Public Schools District, Lauderdale County School District, and Meridian Community College take the ACT WorkKeys Assessment, which measures their knowledge of mathematics, workplace documents, and graphic literacy. Depending on how they perform on the test, the National Career Readiness Certificate, students can receive bronze, silver, gold, or platinum designations.
Meridian Public Schools District Superintendent Dr. Amy Carter said the ACT WorkKeys Assessment is already producing positive results in the city schools. In the first year the assessment was given, 119 Meridian High School students took the exam in 2022, with more than 86 percent receiving a silver-level certification or higher. “This achievement underscores the vital role education plays in shaping the future,” she said.
Lauderdale County School District Superintendent Dr. John-Mark Cain echoed Dr. Carter, noting, “Being an ACT Work Ready Community speaks to the dedication to preparing our students for the challenges of today’s workforce.” For the past seven years, Lauderdale County School District has administered the ACT WorkKeys assessment to every 12th grader. Dr. Cain noted that 315 of the 427 seniors scored at the silver level or higher for the most recent graduating class.
Commitment from businesses and industries is vital to the program. “I’m excited to watch the positive impact this designation will bring to our area,” said Gina Sharman, vice president of A&B Electric. “The ACT Work Ready Community designation will ensure that we’re equipped with top-tier talent, ready to meet the health care needs of our community,” added Larkin Kennedy, CEO of Ochsner Rush Health.
Though the County has achieved the designation, the work is ongoing; it begins a two-year growth and maintenance phase to maintain certification.