Halifax County receives workforce readiness certification

Halifax County has received a nationally recognized workforce readiness certification

The Certified Work Ready Community designation is expected to help the Southern Virginia county attract new businesses and jobs.

To become certified, a county must achieve benchmarks in three areas of performance: high school graduation rate, number of National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) credentials attained in the county, and number of employers recognizing NCRC.

More than 50 local employers, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations supported the county’s efforts to achieve certification.

Site Selection Magazine has added the number of National Career Readiness Certificates per 1,000 residents as part of its tabulations for its annual Top Ten Competitive States report.

In addition to Halifax County, Henry County has been certified as a Work Ready Community. Four neighboring other Southern Virginia localities are on track to receive certification in the next four months, including Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, and the cities of Danville and Martinsville.

In addition, Greensville County and the City of Emporia launched their CWRC initiatives in 2015, with Cumberland County planning to launch this spring.