Helping people find work in the manufacturing field is the main focal point behind a new program being offered at The Attala Center of Holmes Community College. The program, that will serve Holmes and Attala Counties, was rolled out to the community during an info session Tuesday morning at the college.
The eight-week course, which partners with Kosciusko Attala Partnership and the Attala Works initiative, will provide high school graduates an alternative to college and training for people changing careers. Students taking the course will be provided with the basic skills needed to be successful in a high-performance manufacturing environment.
“With just recently launching Attala Works with the Career Readiness Certification and this is the next step in that process,” said Kel McDowell, CEO of the Kosciusko Attala Partnership. “Having a certification that can help not only our employers, but also job seekers.”
The course, which is slated to begin in May, offers intro to employees’ success, basic computer/ employability, CPR/ first aid, intro to power tools, blue print reading, precision measurement, interview skills, high performance, manufacturing and OSHA 10-hour safety certification. A minimum score of a ‘4’ (Silver Certificate) on the approved sections of the WorkKeys career readiness test along with completing Career Ready 101 and the Job P.A.S.S. Assessment Test.
“This program has proven to be successful with it currently being used in Madison County to provide a workforce for Nissan,” said Earline Smith, Workforce Coordinator for Holmes Attala. “However, we can customize this program to actually fit the needs of the local employers. It is proven that you will need these classes to be a good introductory worker in the manufacturing industry.”
The Attala Works initiative, which aims to measure, engage and enhance the workforce of the community through the ACT Work Ready Community certification program, was launched last August. Attala Works utilizes ACT’s Career Readiness Certification (CRC) credential. The CRC is built on a series of WorkKeys exams, with participants awarded certificates of Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze levels. According to ACT, those scoring at the Bronze level qualify for roughly 35 percent of the jobs profiled by WorkKeys. Silver level indicates the skills necessary for about 65 percent of profiled jobs, while Gold reflects the skills for 90 percent.
“Just like with Attala Works this certification is a game changer to show that Attala County is work ready and can bring in qualified candidates to our manufacturing partners,” McDowell added.
