HOPKINS CO., KY (WFIE) -
A Tri-State county is a step closer to becoming a Work Ready Community after a review panel recommended Hopkins County as a Work Ready Community in Progress.
Hopkins County is set to join the other eight counties across the Commonwealth designated as Work Ready. But what kinds of benefits could the community see through this distinction?
"First and foremost is economic development. When potential employers are looking at a community to have this designation means that you do have a workforce that is readily available, educated, trained, and ready to go to work," said Madisonville Mayor David Jackson.
Right now, Hopkins is Work Ready in Progress meaning they are on the right track to meeting criteria in six different areas that include high school graduation rates, digital literacy, and community commitment to education.
"We've already met some of those goals. We're working towards others and we have three years to meet those goals," Jackson said.
One part of the criteria that Hopkins County will need to improve on is the amount of residents who have a National Career Readiness certificate. Right now, there's just over 600 and roughly 4,000 throughout the county need to hold that certificate.
"People who are looking for employment can have the opportunity to take the test and help prove their skill levels," said Bob Simmons with MCC Workforce Development.
Normally the test costs $55, but Simmons says residents can take it for free at several locations around the county. He says the more people that participate, the sooner they'll be Work Ready.
"Right now because of a grant that we have, that can be taken at no charge to individuals at our assessment center as part of the college," Simmons said.
The locations that you can take that NCRC Assessment are-
- Office of Employment & Training (270.824.7562)
- MCC Workforce Solutions (270.824.8658)
- MCC Assessment Center (270.824.1701)
- Job Net Career Center (270-821-9966)
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