Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Gwinnett County has been designated as a "Georgia Certified Work Ready Community," becoming the first of the five core metro Atlanta counties to earn the certification that represents a dedication to providing top-notch job training.

Gwinnett became the largest county in the state to earn the certification when the governor's office made the announcement Monday. Communities that earn the "work ready" designation "must demonstrate a commitment to improving public high school graduation rates ... and show that a significant percentage of the available and current workforce have earned work ready certificates."

"Our community has the skilled workforce that growing businesses demand, and the educational infrastructure to drive economic growth and prosperity," Gwinnett County Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said in a statement. "The designation indicates that our focus on these areas should translate to more jobs for residents in our county."

Georgia Work Ready is aimed at ensuring Georgia workers "have the best skills, easy access to training and world-class job opportunities." A work ready certificate can be used by a potential employee to prove their training and skills to employers.

Gwinnett Technical College and partnering organizations like WIKA Instrument Corporation were recognized for their "focused efforts" toward the Work Ready program.