ACT® Work Ready Communities for counties

By participating in the ACT® Work Ready Communities [WRC] initiative, counties can identify skill gaps and quantify the skill level of their workforce. This helps educators build career pathways aligned to the needs of business and industry -- and it also helps a community stand out and be recognized for its workforce development efforts. A strong workforce is a tremendous economic development advantage.

Counties engage in ACT® Work Ready Communities through successful completion of the ACT® Work Ready Communities Boot Camp. For those interested in engaging in the initiative there is an application process managed via the ACT® WRC® website. Interested counties should complete and submit an application online to join the next Boot Camp group. Click here for a schedule of upcoming WRC Boot Camps.

A county Work Ready Communities leadership team should, at minimum, have representatives from local government, economic development, workforce development, community/technical college, K-12 system, and business/industry.

What do Counties bring?

Participating county representatives are required to fund their travel to both sessions. The Boot Camp fee is $395 per person. Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided.

  • Each county shall organize a cross agency team of government, educators, workforce, economic development and business/chamber leaders
  • Two team members (required) from each county shall participate in the ACT® WRC® Boot Camp - which consists of 2, two day sessions
  • Counties shall commit to developing, launching and sustaining a successful county certified ACT® Work Ready Community
  • Counties shall have ACT® WorkKeys® tests and ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificates® accessible for individuals and employers

What does ACT bring?

  • ACT shall provide the Boot Camp consisting of 2, two day sessions.
  • ACT shall work with counties to establish initial goals based on ACT® Work Ready Communities Common Criteria
  • ACT shall provide data, process and tools in the Boot Camp to drive county initiative success
    • Data: ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC® and employer supporting data for each county
    • Process: The ACT® WRC® Boot Camp to help counties build a WRC® initiative
    • Tools: Monthly website delivery of data, communication tools and more

Arrow pointing to the right with three boxes overlayed. First box reads Local county team completes application and is accepted into boot camp. Second box reads ACT engages county leadership teams into ACT WRC Boot Camp. Third box reads Counties complete boot camp, launch initiative.

By participating in the WRC® initiative, counties can both identify skill gaps and quantify the skill level of their workforce. This helps educators build career pathways aligned to the needs of business and industry -- and it also helps a community stand out and be recognized for its workforce development efforts. A strong workforce is a tremendous economic development advantage.