Special to Iredell Free News
Iredell Economic Development Corporation, along with its partners, Centralina Workforce Development Board, Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Iredell County, Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mooresville Graded School District, and Mitchell Community College, was recently awarded the Fusion Award at the Statesville Chamber’s annual meeting for their work on Iredell Ready.
Iredell Ready is a countywide workforce initiative focuses on cultivating career exploration, promoting lifelong learning, and closing the skills gap for Iredell County employers.
The award follows the initiative’s first Workforce Forum in September 2023, where a new workforce dashboard designed to help students and residents identify opportunities to pursue career pathways and employment with businesses in Iredell County was unveiled.
The Iredell Ready initiative also aims to further strengthen partnerships with businesses by supporting their recruitment, retention, and pipeline development efforts to build a skilled workforce.
“It is an honor for Iredell County to receive the Fusion Award and be recognized as one of the participants that came together in partnership to create a pathway for citizens, whether they are students, unemployed, currently employed, or even retired to navigate their next steps in life,” said Melissa Neader, chair of Iredell County Board of Commissioners. “Satisfying employment is more than just a job, it is a way of enriching your life, giving back and inspiring others! Having a starting point like Iredell Ready is priceless.”
Iredell Ready demonstrates the commitment of the founding partners to help Iredell County achieve workforce attainment goals and contribute to the State of North Carolina’s goal of achieving 2 million North Carolinians earning a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030.
“I’m incredibly grateful to our partners for their passion, dedication, and vision in creating Iredell Ready,” says Jenn Bosser, president & CEO of the Iredell County Economic Development Corporation. “We are just getting started. Our goal is to reach every student, parent, resident, and business in Iredell County to help them realize their opportunities for a career pathway and prosperous future in Iredell County.”
Shannon Viera, President of the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, agrees commitment and collaboration are the keys to success for Iredell Ready.
“Incorporating the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce into the Iredell Ready initiative underscores our commitment to workforce readiness. The success of Iredell Ready hinges on collaborative partnerships, prioritizing access to vital information and resources. We take pride in this recognition and eagerly anticipate the next phase of Iredell Ready.”
LEARN MORE
To learn more about the Iredell Ready initiative, visit www.iredellready.com.