Local leaders hold official ceremony for Sumter County Work Ready signs

AMERICUS — As planned, a formal unveiling of Sumter County’s Work Ready sign was held Wednesday afternoon at the Sumter-Schley County line on U.S. Highway 19 North. The site is one of 10 where the signs were placed in early January indicating the County’s status as a Work Ready Community of Excellence.

Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce President Angela Westra said at the unveiling that the Chamber “called upon private businesses to get involved” to help the County achieve its Work Ready status. “And we’ve made sure that all of our staff members are Work Ready certified,”

Westra said.

Sumter County Board of Commissioners Chairman Randy Howard said that the certification should provide an economic boost and that the certification is “proof that the County is serious about developing a skilled work force.”

Since May 2007, when efforts were organized in the community to meet the governor’s Work Ready standard’s, there have been 1,439 Work Ready certificates awarded and the public high school graduation rate has increased 6.7 percent, according to Wally Summers, South Georgia Tech’s (SGTC) Vice President of Economic Development Services. Todd Vickery, graduation coach at Americus-Sumter County High School, said that he was “proud of the kids” in doing their part to increase the graduation rate and that he “was proud to be part of the program.”

Current Chairman of the Chamber Wallace Mays said that he is proud that leaders in the community with the help of SGTC are “committed to developing (a Work Ready community) and are committed to keeping it going.”

In September 2010, former Gov. Sonny Perdue designated Sumter County as a new Certified Work Ready Community of Excellence. Former Chamber President Sherill House, who was on hand Wednesday, accepted the Work Ready Community of Excellence certificate on behalf of Sumter County from Gov. Perdue on Dec. 9, 2010.