By Prince George County
The National Association of Counties (NACo) announced June 14 that Prince George County has been granted a 2016 Achievement Award for its “Youth Workforce Academy.”
The selection was made in the category of employment and training. Prince George County will join other winners selected at a luncheon on July 24 in Los Angeles as part of the 2016 NACo Annual Conference.
The Youth Workforce Academy is a collaboration among Prince George County Government, Prince George Public School Division and Prince George Promise. It is a program that first teaches middle school and junior high students to learn basic skills necessary in the workplace through a classroom setting, and then students are assigned to various employers both public and private where they work for about six weeks.
“Anytime you are doing something that catches the attention of a national organization like NACo, you have to be very pleased,” commented County Administrator Percy Ashcraft. “This program is far reaching in developing soft and hard skills necessary for the students to hold down permanent jobs. It complements their classroom learning and begins to make them a more well-rounded person in the job environment.”
Sharon Jadrnak is the program coordinator. This summer will be the second year for the program.