Apply Online

Fast Facts

Thomas County is officially "Work Ready"

 

 

From left to right, Gary Pitts, Vice President for Economic Development at SWGTC, Lorette Hoover, Interim President of SWGTC, Fred McConnel of  the Governor's Office of Workforce Development, and Don Sims, President of the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce

 

State and local officials and representatives of Southwest Georgia Technical College (SWGTC) met August 11th at SWGTC campus to mark Thomas County’s designation as “Certified Work Ready”.  Governor Sonny Perdue’ and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce launched the Georgia Work Ready program in August of 2008 to improve job training and marketability of Georgia’s workforce.

 

In addition to the recognition, officials were also awarded a grant and accepted a $10,000 check on behalf of Thomas County from the state for this achievement. The grant will be used to continue efforts to bring employment opportunities and to provide skilled employees for those businesses and industries in the county. Highway signs will be placed at various locations throughout the county proclaiming Thomas County’s status as “Certified Work Ready”, a distinction shared with only 56 other counties in Georgia.

 

“Thomas County was one of the first 50 counties to earn the certification,” said Fred McConnell, of the Governor’s Office of Work Force Development. “We want all of Georgia to be Certified Work Ready, and Georgia to be the first state to send a message to national and international industry that we have the employee base they need for new and expanding businesses.”

 

“We are extremely proud that Thomas County has earned this certification and joined the growing list of Georgia counties that are being proactive in this economy by making sure they have the skilled workforce that industries need,” said Gary Pitts, Vice President for Economic Development at SWGTC.  “Being Certified Work Ready makes Thomas County much more marketable in attracting new business and industries.”

 

Thomas County exceeded its goal for Work Ready Assessment tests by high school and college students, workers, and job seekers by 30%. “Thomas County’s graduation rate was 79.2%, which is an outstanding number,” said McConnell. “Increasing high school graduation rates is one of the goals of the Work Ready program. A better educated work force benefits everyone in the community.”

 

The Thomas County and Thomasville City School systems, Cleaver-Brooks, Flowers, and New Hire Solutions were instrumental in helping Thomas County surpass its goal and in achieving Work Ready status. “We want to thank everyone who took the Work Ready assessments and helped put us over the top,” said Pitts.  “We will continue to build on our success and carry on with the program.”

 

Grady and Mitchell Counties, which are in SWGTC’s service area, are also Certified Work Ready.

 

More information on the Georgia Certified Work Ready program may be obtained by calling 225-4096.