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OCALA, Fla. (May 28, 2021) — CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion and the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership have been recognized by the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) for significant partnership in advancing the region’s workforce and economic development.
The 2021 Laurie Moran Partnership Award, given jointly to a workforce development board and chamber of commerce, will be presented next month at NAWB’s annual Forum in Washington, D.C. It is one of NAWB’s three most prestigious awards, along with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Trailblazer and W.O. Lawton awards.
“Over the past year, workforce development boards, leaders and industry partners have gone above and beyond to provide essential services in a time of national crisis,” said Ron Painter, president and CEO of NAWB. “NAWB could not be more honored to recognize each of these award recipients. Workforce development boards are a critical piece of our country’s infrastructure, and we are thrilled to take a moment to recognize them at our annual event.”
Painter noted that CareerSource CLM was selected out of a large pool of nominations to win the Laurie Moran Partnership Award because of its efforts to meet the enhanced need for area workers, including youth-focused projects which draw younger workers into the local workforce.
It is named in memory of the late Laurie Moran of Virginia, a NAWB board member who served for many years as chamber president and on a workforce investment board. The award honors workforce boards and chambers that work together to promote workforce and economic development.
“We are honored to have been selected and excited about our partnership with the CEP and impact it has had on the students and job seekers in Marion County,” said Rusty Skinner, CEO of CareerSource CLM.
Skinner added that Marion County Public Schools deserves recognition for the role public education plays in the success of workforce-business-career-awareness initiatives.
“While the award focuses on the relationships with local workforce boards and their chambers, the team from Marion County schools deserves equal credit for sharing the vision and dedication to make our partnership work.”
The CEP is the 2020 National Chamber of the Year and has collaborated with CareerSource CLM on numerous initiatives to establish a talented and trained workforce, including its annual involvement with the Marion County Youth Career Expos.
“From its inception eight years ago, the CEP has been built on partnerships and one of our key partnerships from the beginning has been with CareerSource CLM,” said Kevin T. Sheilley, Ocala Metro CEP President/CEO. “Engaging our business community with the workforce board means our community is proactively addressing the workforce needs of today and the future.”
Also earning NAWB honors are CareerSource Palm Beach County and the Capital Area Workforce Development Board (Raleigh, NC), recipients of the WIOA Trailblazer Award for work to advance WIOA’s impact in the community; and the Hospitality Training Academy (Los Angeles, Calif.) winner of the W.O. Lawton Award in recognition of its program to hire workers laid off during the pandemic to help feed seniors, low-income families, persons experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence and/or slavery.
To learn more about all of the award winners and NAWB’s annual event The Forum, please visit: https://forum.nawb.org/.
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About CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is a member of CareerSource Florida and a proud partner of the American Job Center network. CareerSource CLM is supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and other agencies as part of awards totaling $8.7 million (revised annually). CareerSource CLM is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities and in Spanish. All voice telephone numbers listed above may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711. If you need accommodations, please call 800-434-5627, ext. 7878 or e-mail [[email protected]][email protected].
About the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership
The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership was created to be a one-stop hub for the community’s business attraction, creation and retention efforts. The CEP’s mission is to be THE catalyst for a prosperous community. The Moving Forward plan seeks to impact the creation of 4500 new jobs with wages 15% above the county average and resulting in a capital investment of $400 million by 2022. For more information, visit: www.OcalaCEP.com
About the National Association of Workforce Boards
The National Association of Workforce Boards represents over 500 Workforce Development Boards and their 12,000+ business members that coordinate and leverage workforce strategies with education and economic development stakeholders within their local communities, to ensure that state and local workforce development and job training programs meet the needs of employers. For more information on NAWB’s latest work and new initiatives, please visit www.nawb.org.