The 57th governor of the state of Missouri, Mike Parson, paid a visit to Fayette and to Central Methodist University on Tuesday to celebrate Howard County’s new certification as an ACT Work Ready Community.
Along with Missouri Director of Workforce Development Dr. Mardy Leathers, Parson congratulated the members of the Howard County community on hand who have worked hard over several years to complete the requirements. As a Work Ready Community, Howard County’s businesses and workforce will benefit from the nationally recognized credential. The Work Ready initiative is an effort to align workforce and education to meet the economic needs of the state and local communities.
“You guys will be the model for a lot of other small counties across the state,” Gov. Parson said to the community members in attendance, “for how it can be done if you put all your resources together.”
The governor stated that his desire is to leave office with every Missouri county certified for Work Ready, as part of his ongoing push in the areas of workforce development and infrastructure.
Amber Overfelt, assistant manager of Howard Electric Cooperative and chairman of the Howard County Economic Development Council, thanked CMU and everyone in attendance for their work in completing the project of becoming a Work Ready Community.
“These [private and public] entities understood that what is good for one part of Howard County is good for all of Howard County,” she said. “This is one more tool that will allow potential businesses looking for a place to locate or expand to see that we have a ready and capable workforce here waiting for them.”
Find out more on the Work Ready Communities program at workreadycommunities.org.