New Workforce and Economic Development Website

THE LUMBER RIVER STAR

security, and other related jobs

and skill needs) and to maxim-

ize the benefits to the region

and state.

This new website is just one

product of an on-going three-

year collaborative effort by the

five organizations through a

NC Department of Commerce

Division of Workforce Devel-

opment grant to encourage

such regional partnerships.

Other regional initiatives have

included holding the first ever

joint workforce board meeting

in Fayetteville, sponsoring a

regional literacy summits in

Lumberton, virtually connect-

ing and equipping the four

board meeting rooms with

video-conferencing capabilities,

and branding the 11-county

area as the "All American

Gateway Workforce Region".

"The collaboration of our or-

ganizations offers the best as-

sets available throughout the

region and larger All American

Defense Corridor. Our new

regional portal site - allameri-

cangateway.com - reflects this

approach with a central entry

to workforce and related re-

sources," said Dana Powell,

Administrator of the Lumber

River WDB.

The multi-page website pro-

vides information about and

links to resources within the

All American Gateway Work-

force Region such as JobLink

Career Centers, economic clus-

ters and occupational sectors,

regional collaboration accom-

plishments, other partners and

assets, plus PipelineNC.com

and the NC Employment Se-

curity Commission's Job Con-

nector tool.

The regional partnership is also

planning for the launch of a

Lifelong Learning and Literacy

campaign in September to co-

incide with National Literacy

Month. -www.bracrtf.com

Please check out the website at

www.allamericangateway.org.

The four Workforce Develop-

ment Boards (WDB) serving

the 11-county BRAC growth

region, together with the Fort

Bragg Regional Alliance

(previously BRAC Regional

Task Force), launched a brand

new workforce and economic

development website. The site

- www.allamericangateway.com - is

designed to help align, inte-

grate, and publicize education,

training, workforce and eco-

nomic development across the

four local workforce service

areas: Lumber River (Bladen,

Hoke, Richmond, Robeson,

Scotland); Triangle South

(Chatham, Lee, Harnett,

Sampson); Regional Partner-

ship (Montgomery and

Moore); and Cumberland.

Over the next several years, the

Fort Bragg environs will see

substantial gains of direct mili-

tary and civilian personnel as

the US Army moves its Forces

Command (FORSCOM) and

Reserve Command (USARC)

from Fort McPherson, GA to

Fort Bragg. Workforce plan-

ning and preparation is re-

quired to deal with the growth

challenges (including more

high-pay defense, homeland

"The

collaboration

of our

organizations

offers the best

assets available

throughout the

region and

larger All

American

Defense

Corridor.” -

Dana Powell,

Lumber River

WDB

Administrator

Richmond County Joins Lumber River WDB Service Area

The Lumber River Workforce Development Board is proud to announce its newest addition - Rich-

mond County. Previously, the County was affiliated with the Pee Dee Workforce Development for

about a decade since the accompanying council of governments dissolved and it joined the Lumber

River COG. Richmond‘s elected officials were already a part of the Lumber River COG and the

agency was already providing other services in Richmond County, so it was a natural fit to bring the

county‘s workforce development services under the same consortium. The Employment Security

Commission in Rockingham will continue to be the host agency of the Richmond County JobLink

Career Center. The JobLink Center will provide WIA Adult & Dislocated Worker services. Both

Richmond County Community Support and Rockingham District Partners in Ministry will provide

WIA Youth services.

Partnership Releases Videos to Promote Allied Health Professionals

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2

to-fill Allied Health jobs. The

video is now available on

YouTube at http://youtu.be/

qPUDxypbYxY or can be

viewed at any of the JobLink

Career Centers in the partner-

ship area.

The second video is a recruit-

ment video to help displaced

or dislocated workers to con-

sider retraining for health ca-

reers. ―Can You See Yourself

in a Health Career?‖ features

short testimonials from local

individuals in the region who

lost their jobs but successfully

completed training at local

community colleges and got

jobs in health care. The video

is intended to inspire job seek-

ers to consider and ask for

more information about health

careers, health training pro-

grams and jobseeker resources.

The video can be viewed at

http://vimeo.com/24690618 and

is also available at the JobLink

Career Centers in the partner-

ship area.

The funding for the partner-

ship ended on June 30, 2011;

however, it is preparing to

transition to a new model of

self-management with volun-

teer leadership and in-kind

support.

“Southeastern NC: Plant Your

Roots, Grow Your Career”

http://youtu.be/

qPUDxypbYxY

―Can You See Yourself in a Health

Career?”

http://vimeo.com/24690618

During its grant period, the

Southern NC Allied Health

Regional Skills Partnership

successfully produced two

videos that helped showcase its

partnership area—Bladen,

Cumberland, Hoke, Moore,

Richmond, Robeson and Scot-

land counties.

The first video ―Southeastern

NC: Plant Your Roots, Grow

Your Career‖ features Allied

Health employees in each of

the health care systems in the

partnership that have relocated

here from out of the region.

Through their stories, the vid-

eo shows the unique benefits

of living and working in south-

eastern NC and will serve as a

marketing tool to showcase the

region to individuals that are

considering a move here for

work. The video is intended to

help employers in their efforts

to recruit for some of the hard-

LRWDB Bids Farewell to Team Members

Andrena Scott announced her retirement effective January 1, 2011. Andrena was the

Executive Director of Career and Technical Education at Hoke County Schools and

Director of the WIA Youth Program in Hoke County. She also served on the Lumber

River Youth Council.

Vickie Tate announced her retirement effective June 1, 2011. Vickie was the Assistant

Vice-President for Basic Skills at Robeson Community College and Director of the WIA

Out-of-School Youth Program in Robeson County. Vickie was the first Workforce De-

velopment Administrator for the Lumber River region.

Sylvia Pate began her retirement effective July 1, 2011. Sylvia served as Director of the

UNC Pembroke Regional Center for Economic, Community and Professional Develop-

ment and oversaw the WIA In-School Youth Program in Robeson County and the Sus-

tainable Agriculture Program under the State Energy Sector Program grant. Sylvia was

the second Workforce Development Administrator for the Lumber River region.

Please join us as we wish Andrena, Vickie and Sylvia all the best in their retirement!

Alyssa, a Respiratory

Therapist, shares her

story in the “Can You See

Yourself in a Health

Career?” Video


Literacy Campaign (cont.)

from the 12-county area were

in attendance and represented

community colleges, county

literacy councils, education,

economic development, cham-

bers of commerce, libraries,

workforce development, de-

partment of social services and

vocational rehabilitation. From

this summit, a network of part-

ners was established and a

meeting has been scheduled

(Continued from page 1) for August 24, 2011 to discuss

the making of a regional litera-

cy council. ―Establishing a

regional literacy council within

the 12 counties would

strengthen collaboration be-

tween regional organizations

and enhance their influence,‖

said Shana.

By September, the partnership

plans to launch the campaign

to coincide with National Lit-

eracy Month. For more infor-

mation or to join the fledging

Regional Literacy Council,

please contact Shana Overdorf

a t (910) 808 -4671 or

[email protected]. –

www.bracrtf.com

The heat is on! With power

plants delivering reliable energy

and air conditioning keeping us

cool, thank the ingenuity and

hard work of the people who

provide these modern conven-

iences. Heating & Air Condi-

tioning (HVAC) ranks high on

my list, right beside other tech-

nological friends such as

trucks, grocery stores, the in-

ternet and cellphones.

These things we often take for

granted – at least until the mo-

ment they stop working, or

begin to thin wallets. Unless

you live at the beach, where

new units are eaten and quickly

corroded in as little as five

years by salty air, a service call

and tune-up may be all that‘s

needed. But what do you do

when the HVAC technician

confirms that the system is

working properly and your

home is still uncomfortable,

the air is moldy stale, or the

electricity bill is still out the

roof?

In terms of high energy bills,

the poor and elderly on low,

fixed incomes are certainly

affected, but with our economy

struggling to adapt to a new era

of global competition, more of

the middle class also feels the

pinch. Professional Energy

Auditors diagnose problems,

recommend affordable solu-

tions and help you develop an

action plan – whether it‘s sim-

ple do-it-yourself projects or

hiring the right specialist.

But to think of your home‘s

performance upgrade strictly in

terms of energy savings misses

the wider scope of benefits. An

Energy Auditor is a trained and

certified building scientist – or

what I think of as the 21st cen-

tury home inspector. They take

the ―house-as-a-system‖ ap-

proach when analyzing prob-

lems that pertain to the home‘s

health, comfort, and safety.

This may include: carbon mon-

oxide spillage, moisture prob-

lems, mold, excessive dust, gas

leaks, poor air quality, uncom-

fortable rooms, high energy

bills, and other issues.

Personally, I‘m far more con-

cerned with the air my preg-

nant wife is breathing from our

moldy old asbestos-piped

crawlspace below. Sure, I save

a kilowatt dollar when I can,

but guarantee you that I‘ll be

spray foaming to define my air

barrier long before I replace

windows with over-marketed

Low-E sashes.

Knowing that 60% of the first-

floor air you breathe in most

homes comes from the

crawlspace, or, that nearly 30%

of homes in our region have

detectable gas leaks may help

to explain the cause of certain

health problems.

So whether it‘s high energy

bills or poor air quality, there

(Continued on page 5)

Beating the Heat with Home Performance Upgrades

“Approximately

60% of the

first floor air

in most homes

comes form the

crawlspace, ”

- Ryan Nance

Students Constructing “Insulated

Tents” for Recessed Lights

are local professionals that can

help. Energy Auditors and

some traditional HVAC con-

tractors have fine-tuned their

services and incorporated new

methods to help boost your

home‘s performance, and its

ability to beat the heat.

Success stories have become

routine from the Weatheriza-

tion Program that Four County

Community Services adminis-

ters. Eligible to families in

need, the program helps make

homes more energy efficient

through air sealing, insulation

and education.

According to John Spence,

Program Manager, they have

―completed over 900 of 1,550

homes…and furnished heat

and air conditioning systems

(Continued from page 4) and repairs to nearly 400

homes‖. The program serves a

larger 7-county region and will

end on March 30, 2012.

Mr. Fran Meinert‘s home was

one of those 900 success sto-

ries. A Council of Government

Board member of Parkton, Mr.

Meinert achieved a 30% reduc-

tion in his utility bill following

a home performance upgrade

by one of the program‘s weath-

erization contractors.

Home Performance services

are common in the more urban

areas where renovation and

remodeling strategies for older

homes encompass more than

just a facelift. Now, residents

of our region have the same

services available from local

contractors.

The Lumber River Workforce

Development Board continues

to partner with our region‘s

community colleges and moti-

vated construction profession-

als. Visit our Facebook page

for a list of contractors and

auditors that participate in

these initiatives, as well as oth-

er practical resources for

homeowners.

If you are interested in training

opportunities leading to certifi-

cations within these specialized

fields, scholarships are still

available. Please call

(910) 272-5078 or email

[email protected] to in-

quire. -Ryan Nance, Workforce

Development Staff

Upgrades (cont.)

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2

Some of the produce offered

by local growers at

Pembroke’s Farmers Market

The Sustainable Agriculture

Program, a project of the UNC

Pembroke Regional Center,

sponsored Pembroke‘s first

farmers market, which opened

mid-May.

The market, located at the

UNC Pembroke‘s Distance

Education parking lot on the

corner of University Road, has

been a great spot for area

growers to sell their produce, a

plus for the students who com-

pleted the first SA class. ―On

the first day, four of our stu-

dents set up their produce in

crates and buckets and sold

them right from their tail-

gates,‖ - said Emily Locklear,

the program coordinator.

―This is a new opportunity for

these small farmers to market

their produce and supplement

their income.‖ Produce in-

cluded cucumbers, potatoes,

squash, string beans, sweet

peas, cabbage, onions, cauli-

flower, mustard, turnips, kale,

potted plants, hanging plants

and flowering plants.

The program plans to enroll

more students over the next

year. ―More and more people

these days are eating healthier,

which in turn boosts the de-

mand for fresh fruit and vege-

tables and therefore directly

impacts the farmers and

the markets,‖ says Emily.

―Therefore we hope that by

enrolling more students, we

can increase the volume and

variety of produce for the mar-

ket.‖

The Sustainable Agriculture

Program is a 48-hour certifi-

cate program coupled with

work experience that focuses

on new trends in agriculture

and new ways to produce agri-

cultural income. It is funded

by a grant from the U.S. De-

partment of Labor to NC De-

partment of Commerce‘s Divi-

sion of Workforce Develop-

ment for a State Energy Sector

Partnership grant and contract-

ed to UNCP through the Lum-

ber River WDB. –www.uncp.edu

Program Opens Pembroke’s First Farmers Market

Labor Market Information Update


COUNTY June 2011 June 2010 Labor Force

June 2011

Bladen 12.5% 12% 15,713

Hoke 9.7% 9% 21,171

Robeson 13.2% 12.7% 56,842

Scotland 17.1% 17.1% 13,434

Lumber River Local Area

13% 12.4% 127,604

North Carolina 9.9% 10.5% 4,502,076

Unemployment Rates

Source: NC Employment Security Commission

Ryan Nance, the new Energy Sector Program Coordinator at the LRCOG, will be responsible for the successful completion of the Lumber River State Energy Sector Partnership Grant. The goal of the grant is to train and certify workers with advanced skills in green construction, sustainable agri-culture, and other green energy fields. Emily Locklear is the Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator at UNC Pembroke. She coordinates the Sustainable Agriculture Certificate program, contracted through the Lumber River WDB, which fo-cuses on new trends in agriculture and new ways to produce agricultural income. Damian Cloeter is the new Green Construction Project Coordinator at the LRCOG. Damian coor-dinates Green Construction activities and works with training institutions to develop and implement training and employment opportunities in the Green Construction. Tammy Beasley was promoted from Employment Consultant I to Employment Consultant Super-visor I/WIA Supervisor at the Robeson County JobLink Career Center/ESC. David Bullard was promoted from Employment Consultant II to Employment Consultant Supervi-sor I/WIA Supervisor at the Scotland County JobLink Career Center/ESC. Jessica Hendrix works at Hoke High School as one of its newest WIA Youth Specialists. Harlena Kershaw is a new WIA Youth Specialist at Hoke High School. Lee Newkirk was promoted from Veterans‘ Supervisor in Fayetteville to Assistant Manager at the Robeson County JobLink Career Center/ESC. Scotland County WIA Youth Program Staff (Vondia Caple, Mary Blue and Jessica McLeod) have moved to a new location: Shaw Academy, 1800 Old Wire Road, Laurinburg, NC, 28352 (910) 276-6541. Dr. Johnny Hunt, LRWD Board Member, was awarded the UNC Pembroke Outstanding Alumnus Award. Evan Davenport, LRWD Board Member, was named the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award at UNC Pembroke.

Team Member Updates

David Bullard

Scotland County

JobLink CC/ESC

Ryan Nance

Energy Sector

Program Coordinator

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Email your submission to [email protected] along with your name, organization, address, and phone number.

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2

Ramey Elected President of Steering Committee

The death of Dr. Stanley A. Richardson on March 10, 2010 and the death of

Judy Bowen Leggett on March 17, 2011 was a tragic loss for the Lumber River

Workforce Development Board.

Dr. Stanley Adolphus Richardson, longtime educator from Bladen County,

served as the Chairman of the Youth Council, a committee of the Workforce

Development Board. He was an avid advocate for youth and education during

his tenure. He is sorely missed by his fellow WDB members, Youth Council

members, staff, and contractors in our four-county region. The board decided

to honor Dr. Stanley A. Richardson by naming the WDB Board Member of the

Year Award in his name. As a result, the spirit and memory of Dr. Richardson

will remain strong.

Judy Bowen Leggett served as an Employment Consultant for the Robeson County JobLink Career

Center/ESC. With over 30 years of experience, she had a passion for helping others. She will be

truly missed by all who knew her.

In Remembrance of Dr. Stanley A. Richardson & Judy Leggett

The late Dr.

Stanley

Richardson

The late Judy

Bowen

Leggett

2011 State of the NC Workforce is Now Available

The State of the NC Workforce 2011-2020 provides an in-depth analysis of the supply of available

workers and the workforce demand in the state. The report evaluates the impact of the Great Reces-

sion on North Carolina's labor force and revisits ongoing structural economic trends identified be-

fore the recession. The Commission on Workforce Development stands at the ready to foster and

facilitate the conversations necessary to reach our goal of making North Carolina the most business-

friendly state in the country, offering the skilled workforce necessary for business creation and ex-

pansion. The full report can be accessed online at www.nccommerce.com/workforce/report.

Recognizing the need for net-

working and collaboration, the

committee was developed to

plan statewide business ser-

vices activities, trainings and

special projects. The commit-

tee has been instrumental in

policy development regarding

on-the-job training and local

incumbent worker training.

Michael will be responsible for

submitting reports to the NC

Dept. of Commerce Business

Services Division, coordinating

committee meetings, and serv-

ing as a consultant to solicit

ideas from all NC Business

Services Representatives for

key topics of emphasis.

Michael will work together

with Workforce Development

Directors and JobLink Manag-

ers in the state regarding busi-

ness services projects, as well

as provide summary reports of

meetings.

Congratulations Michael!

Michael Ramey, the Business

Services Coordinator for the

Lumber River WDB, was re-

cently elected as President of

the NC Business Services Rep-

resentatives Steering Commit-

tee.

Business Services is a broad

range of holistic, comprehen-

sive, system-wide, human re-

source services offered to busi-

nesses, including consultation,

recruitment, retention, and

training. Local workforce de-

velopment areas tailor services

specifically for their area.

Michael Ramey

Business Services

Coordinator

Phone: 910.618.5533 Fax: 910.521.7576 E-mail: [email protected]

Lumber River Workforce Development Board

Newsletter

Lumber River Council of Governments 30 CJ Walker Road, COMtech Park Pembroke, NC 28372

www.lumberriverwdb.org

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. (800) 205-9916 TTY (800) 205-9915 Voice

Economic Economic Economic DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment

EmploymentEmploymentEmployment EducationEducationEducation

Upcoming Events

August 18 COG Board Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. August 24 Gateway Regional Literacy Council Meeting @ 10:00 am—Hoke County Library August 23 Robeson County Business Services Team Meeting @ 12 noon—UNCP Regional Ctr August 25 Workforce Development Board Meeting @ 12:00 noon September 5 CLOSED for Labor Day

September 11-14 Southeastern Employment & Training Association Fall Conference—Savannah, GA www.seta.org September 15 COG Board Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. October 12-14 NC Workforce Development Partnership Conference—Greensboro, NC www.nccommerce.com

Our Calendar is Online! www.lumberriverwdb.org

the lumber river star july 2011 issue

Business

workforce region

bragg regional

new collaboration region

lumberway workforce

regional cumberland

new website

fort bragg region

maxim region