18 Site Selection and Workforce Development with Guest Mark Arend

Work Ready Communities (WRC) from ACT is a framework for community-based workforce development to drive economic growth. Regions improve their workforce and compete on quality for location consultants, investors, and other decision-makers using data powered by the WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate. Episode 18 of the Ready for Work podcast showcased Site Selection Magazine’s annual State of the States reports and the Regional Workforce Development Climate rankings. The WRC website has a helpful article on economic development as well. Why does an organization invest millions of dollars in one area versus an another? It very well may come down to the area’s workforce. A lot of factors go into choosing a site, and a smart, skilled workforce is right at the top of the list. That’s why Site Selection magazine delivers relevant data/information on the topic for over 44,000 readers, including corporate executives, site selection consultants, and real estate professionals. According to Mark Arend, Editor in Chief of Site Selection, it’s one thing to say, “We have a terrific workforce.” It’s another thing to prove it—and by publishing unbiased data, that’s what Site Selection does. On this episode, we cover: An overview of the site selection process Purpose of the publication’s popular State of the States report The role of the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) as the indicator of workforce quality at a location Economic development impacts us all—in urban and rural areas across America. Listen as Mark Arend discusses more about this topic, along with some of the challenges he sees ahead. Join the Conversation Mark Arend: LinkedIn Site Selection Magazine: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT Workforce Solutions: LinkedIn Resources Site Selection Magazine: State of the States Site Selection Magazine: Regional Workforce Rankings Economic Development in Work Ready Communities ACT WorkKeys® ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) ACT Work Ready Communities ACT Workforce Solutions