March 2, 2009 (WALB) - Dougherty County leaders hope a new designation will help encourage economic development.
The county is one of only six Certified Work Ready Communities. Leaders began work to get the designation two years ago.
More than 1,500 people earned Work Ready Certificates which is 37-percent above goal. The high school graduation rate jumped from 57.5-percent to more than 63-percent. The numbers show potential employers that well-qualified people are ready to work if they locate in the county.
"As we come out of this recovery and good things start to happen, they will most likely happen in Albany first because we'll be able to indicate to the world that we can attract the kinds of industry that will be important for our growth," said Albany Tech President Dr. Anthony Parker.
You can earn a work ready certificate at Albany Technical College. Between 10 and 20 Work Ready signs will be placed around the county to let people know of the designation.
By, Len Kiese
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