MILLEDGEVILLE — As 24 Baldwin County business leaders and elected officials gathered at the Milledgeville campus of Central Georgia Technical College for the Work Ready Drive Saturday, 16 additional Work Ready Certificates were secured, decreasing the numbers needed in order to become a certified Work Ready community and to improve the marketability of the county’s workforce.

CGTC Vice President of Satellite Operations Hank Griffeth said even though City Councilman Phillip Joiner, District 4, Baldwin County Board of Education Member Ray Markwalter, District 3, and State Sen. Johnny Grant were the only three elected officials to take the test over the weekend, “every little bit counts.”

“The government office has put a lot of time and effort for [communities to become Work Ready] all around the state,” Griffeth said. “I think it’s more important for us than it might be for some other communities because we’re experiencing job loss, and this is a great additional credential to have in our back pocket.”

To support Baldwin County endeavors, Campus Club Director Greg Barnes said having to spend his Saturday morning to take the three-hour test was worth the time if it helps “bring in new jobs and shine a better light on Baldwin County.”

“I listened to my leaders and I have to respect their judgments. I can see their passion and this is something we need to do, need to respect their choices and participate so we can take it and show a little bit of Baldwin pride,” Barnes said. “I challenge every resident of Baldwin County to take the test. For pride’s sake, let’s not be the last county in Middle Georgia to become Work Ready; let’s get it done as a community to show what we’re made of.”

Communities In Schools Executive Director Sandy Baxter said she believes the Work Ready drive, a partnership with the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce Partners for Progress, was a huge success with leaders serving as an example for others to take the test.

“I have been encouraging the community to take the test, especially for those that are getting their GEDs and going on to further their education,” Baxter said. “It is very important for Milledgeville to become a Work Ready community, and I hope everybody would take the test.”

Baldwin County is getting close to becoming a certified Work Ready community after Saturday’s testing, meeting or exceeding the target of three out of six segments — the unemployed, high school students and college students. RJI Inc. General Manager of Operations Lyn Chandler, who became Work Ready certified last year, said the county is currently 7 percent away from meeting the target number of locals needed to earn their GED, 13 percent needed within government and 6 percent needed within the private sector.

“It will take everybody for us to complete this, and hopefully people understand that you can’t stop now and you have to continue to pursue this,” Chandler said. “It’s essential that we become a certified Work Ready community. If we’re going to be competitive to track and locate industry within our community, then [this test] is one of those things that will separate us from others and hopefully attract businesses in Baldwin County.”

Partners for Progress Economic Development Committee Member and RJI Inc. President Randale Johnson decided to take 11 of his employees to receive their Work Ready certificates Friday to help change the county’s status.

“I took the test, but for somebody who hasn’t taken a test in 40 years its difficult, but it went well and it was well worth my time,” Johnson said. “I’m just trying to make an impact on the community ... and do whatever we can to become Work Ready certified to bring in industry and become diversified. I would like industries to come in and see what we have to offer.”

A second Work Ready drive is slated at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2, Tuesday, Aug. 3, and Thursday, Aug. 5, at CGTC and Digital Bridges Milledgeville for locals to take assessments.

“It’s critically important that people continue to come out next week and hope people will take the test on those days,” Chandler said. “This is a test I think everybody can be successful on at some level.”

The Georgia Work Ready program provides an assessment of the employability of citizens in a community by entities interested in hiring workers. The state program is an incentive for prospective economic development. Participation from the community will provide local leaders with certification designed to attract more business and industry to Milledgeville and Baldwin County.

Baldwin County residents interested in taking the test must sign up by calling CGTC at (478) 445-2302 or Digital Bridges at (478) 387-0254. For more information about Work Readiness, visit www.gaworkready.org.