Selected items from June 2006 through June 2008:

• Thanks to the hard work of all of the CRC partners, North Carolina was selected as the state winner of the 2007 Worldwide Interactive Network Crystal Globe Award for Excellence in Workforce Development.

• South Piedmont develops the first Career Readiness Certification television commercial in partnership with Centralina Workforce Development Board. To see the commercial, go to: http://www.centralinaworks.com/Website/Podcasts.asp

• The Wayne County Public Schools website (www.waynecountyschools.org) now has CRC information on the homepage.

• Jeanie Moore from Rowan-Cabarrus CC testifies before a U.S. House panel in Washington concerning the National Emergency Grant received for the Pillowtex response, and creation of the R3 Center partnership including the Career Readiness Certificate.

• McDowell Technical CC provides required pre-hire class for Collins & Aikman that includes WorkKeys assessments.

• Rowan-Cabarrus CC requires CRC as a pre-requisite for the Pharmacy Technician Program and cuts attrition to 0%!

• Campbell Soup Company partners with Robeson CC and decides to waive requirement of two years experience if an applicant has a Career Readiness Certification.

• Kimberly-Clark and Curtiss-Wright advertise for applicants with CRC as a preferred qualification.

• Fayetteville Technical CC integrates CRC into Adult High School and GED programs with funds provided by the Fayetteville Tech CC Foundation, and proves that the NC CRC is truly a portable credential as requests are received to send documentation of certification to Texas, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

• “We selected the Catawba County area based on its highly skilled workforce and North Carolina’s commitment to supporting the furniture industry and related jobs in the state.” Howard Lester, Chairman and CEO, Williams-Sonoma

• Brunswick CC requires the CRC as a pre-requisite to the CNA Program with great success.

• PGT Industries – Rowan County, profiles all manufacturing jobs and awards CRCs to many, including the Plant Manager.

• Davidson County CC includes CRC in Allied Health Careers Preparation Class.

• WIRED Grant received by Regional Consolidated Services to promote the CRC in local community including public schools.

• Energizer Battery gives $25,000 grant to Randolph County CC to make CRC scholarships available to individuals.

• Cleveland County Public Schools assesses all juniors and awards Career Readiness Certificates.

• Durham Technical CC partners with Burt’s Bees to issue CRCs to employees.

• Edgecombe CC partners with public high schools to provide CRCs and is excited about opening up multiple doorways of opportunity through the CRC initiative.

• Scotland and Richmond County Schools award CRCs to seniors.

• North Carolina’s Eastern Region makes grant funds of $250,000 per year for three years available for regional CRC implementation proposals.

• Eastern Region Grants received by: Turning Point Workforce Development Board - $85,000 WorkKeys assessment and Career Readiness Certification Project for Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson Community Colleges; Onslow County Schools - $51,000 Career Readiness Certification project in Onslow County; Pitt County EDC and Region Q Workforce Development Board - $55,500 CRC Project; $58,500 – WORKS Wayne County - $58,500 CRC Project.

• Piedmont CC receives Golden Leaf funds to integrate WorkKeys into major automotive manufacturing companies in Person County and offers CRCs at Caswell Correctional Institute.

• Catawba Valley CC receives $2,000 Wal-Mart Grant to provide CRCs in service area.

• CRC is cornerstone for Centralina Workforce Development Board Strategic Plan.

• Gaston College offers 2 week CRC class and integrates CRC into Readiness classes for Office Systems Technology, Early Childhood/Child Care, IT, Medical Assisting, and CNA/Nursing programs and establishes Key Train/WorkKeys drop-in computer lab.

• Wayne County CC WORKS (Wayne Occupational Readiness Keys for Success) partners with the Wayne County Early/Middle College High School to award CRCs.

• Pate Dawson Company in Goldsboro advertises “CRC Certifications are preferred for all positions”.

• Turbomecca partners with South Piedmont CC and requires applicants to have a CRC to be considered a preferred candidate for hire.

• Lumber River Workforce Development Board creates CRC pocket card that is presented to all CRC recipients.

• Diploma Plus partnership (Gaston Together/Gaston 2012, Gaston Regional Chamber, Gaston County Schools, Gaston CC, NC Employment Security Commission, JobLink, Gaston County Economic Development Commission and Gaston County businesses) sets goal of all students graduating with a high school diploma and a CRC.

• Caldwell CC establishes IT Institute in partnership with Google and requires a CRC as pre-requisite to entrance.

• Randolph CC recognizes CRC recipients from GED and AHS programs with a rope in the color of their certificate at graduation ceremony.

• NC Division of Prisons will implement CRC in 6 Pilot sites (Youth Facilities) July 1.

• AB Technical CC offers extremely popular Saturday CRC session.

• Blue Ridge CC brings WorkKeys Profiler Training to NC and works closely with employers to recognize CRCs.

• Johnston CC requires CRC as pre-requisite to BioWorks course.

• Piedmont CC incorporates CRC into Mission Employment Lab, Networks, and Summer Jobs Program, as well as, GRIP class at Caswell Correctional Center.

• Vance-Granville CC integrates Career Readiness Certification into many programs: Kittrell Job Corps - pre-college training course, STEPS and WorkFirst with Vance County DSS, Warren Correctional Institution classes, Women Economic Equity Program in partnership with Franklin Vance Warren Opportunities Program, and GED classes in 4 counties.

• Nash Community College uses electronic billboard for CRC marketing.

• Medical Office Program students, Health Care Career Class, and Day Reporting referrals at Randolph CC earn CRCs.

• CRC is offered in the Aspire employability skills program at Asheville-Buncombe CC.

• Forsyth Technical CC provides CRC opportunities through Employment Skills Lab and Educational Career Center at the JobLink Center.

• Stanly CC integrates CRC into Career Start program.

• The Montgomery Fund-a local Montgomery County Foundation, gives $1,000 grant to Montgomery CC to provide Career Readiness Certificates.

• Guilford Technical CC integrates CRC into Quick Jobs Program and partners with Guilford County Employment and Training and employers to profile many jobs.

• College of the Albemarle awards CRCs in the Aware Program and partners with Edenton-Chowan Public Schools to award certificates to high school students.

• Central Piedmont CC kicks off first “CRC Gap Training” class.

• Charlotte Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board trains WorkKeys Profiler.