The Iredell Industry & Education Alliance, a collaboration of private and public sector leaders, has launched Iredell Ready, a county-wide workforce initiative for the purposes of cultivating career exploration, promoting lifelong learning, and closing the skills gap for Iredell County employers. Led by the Iredell County Economic Development Corporation (Iredell EDC), Iredell Ready originated in partnership with Centralina Workforce Development Board, Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Iredell County, Iredell-Statesville Schools (ISS), Mooresville Graded School District (MSGD), and Mitchell Community College (MCC).
Since May 2022, the initiative has continued to engage and grow its partnership with the addition of businesses and organizations across Iredell County representing six targeted industry sectors and community partners. Collectively these partners have pledged $750,000 in funding over three years as well as volunteer hours and designated programs to support workforce pipeline priorities.
Iredell Ready is an initiative designed to help students and residents, kindergarten through retirement, identify opportunities to pursue career pathways and employment with industry in Iredell County. Iredell Ready aims to strengthen partnerships with industry by supporting their recruitment, retention, and pipeline development efforts to build a skilled workforce.
“Our county is home to so many great programs that support workforce development in our area,” Jenn Bosser, president & CEO, Iredell County Economic Development Corporation, said. “This initiative aims to unify these programs, aligning goals across our workforce pipeline to enhance and amplify resources that will help our residents attain the skills needed to achieve career opportunities with local industries. By working together as one, we can identify gaps, accelerate development of programs, and amplify existing resources available to address the needs of our students, residents, and local industries.”
“Iredell County is committed to preparing our students and residents for success in our evolving economy,” Melissa Neader, chair of Iredell County Board of Commissioners, said. “Our competitiveness is dependent on the quality of our workforce across our pipeline. Iredell Ready is a community initiative that will advance opportunities across our talent pipeline here in Iredell County and help students and residents identify the skills and career pathways to achieve prosperity.”
Iredell Ready is working to develop a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy with the support of Springer Studios, a full-service marketing and design firm, and has plans to launch a website that will feature resources and engaging content to explain and illustrate career pathways in Iredell County. You can learn more about the initiative, news, and events by visiting our landing page and following us on social media via “Iredell Ready” on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. A full website with resources to help individuals navigate what is available will launch in late September 2023.
To learn more about the Iredell Ready initiative and the successes that have already resulted from the partnership, please visit www.iredellready.com.
