Plan to prepare working Iowans for careers in demand has certified 45,000 individuals through National Career Readiness Certificate

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today were joined by Iowa Workforce Development Director Teresa Wahlert at the administration's weekly press conference as they celebrated the successes of the Skilled Iowa Initiative, two years after its launch in June 2012. The Skilled Iowa Initiative has had impacts across every county in Iowa, far greater than originally imagined.  To date, over 10,000 Iowa businesses have signed on in support of the initiative and over 45,000 Iowans have certified their skill sets through the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).

"Skilled Iowa has made tremendous strides across the state, realizing success in areas beyond the traditional workforce, which is positioning Iowa - and hardworking Iowans - for continued success for years to come," said Branstad. "The Skilled Iowa Initiative is helping Iowa businesses identify capable and qualified employees, and giving working Iowans an opportunity to demonstrate the extent of their skillset with a recognized accomplishment - the National Career Readiness Certificate."

One of the cornerstones of the Skilled Iowa Initiative is the internship program, a unique opportunity that connects unemployed Iowans with training opportunities at Iowa businesses.  The individuals receive a new transferrable skill through an internship that provides on-the-job training in conjunction with basic skill development all while maintaining unemployment benefits.  To date, over 300 unique internship opportunities have been utilized by unemployed Iowans and those receiving public assistance.  Fifty-five percent of the internships have resulted in offers of full-time permanent job opportunities.

"With $8.8 billion in private capital investment coming to Iowa since 2011, Governor Branstad and I knew there would be tremendous opportunities for working Iowans to apply their unique skillsets in high-quality careers," said Reynolds. "The innovative Skilled Iowa Initiative helps workers prepare to fill the jobs that are being created all across Iowa."

"The Skilled Iowa Initiative is a perfect demonstration of working together to improve the Iowa economy without concern for politics," stated Bill Knapp, who helped launch the initiative in 2012.  "Governor Branstad and Director Wahlert through Skilled Iowa, and especially the internship portion, have done much to achieve success for the initiative."

The Skilled Iowa Initiative targeted the future workforce during the second year.  The goal was to connect high school students with growing high-tech, high-demand occupations in Iowa.  To date, over 7,000 Iowa high school students have taken the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) assessment, and several students achieved the platinum status.  They join the less than three hundred Iowans who have attained platinum.

"Our students are critical to tomorrow's workforce," stated Teresa Wahlert, director of Iowa Workforce Development.  "By embedding the work critical skills of applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information into the high schools, our students are receiving a sound platform to begin further education and employment."

The Skilled Iowa Initiative strives to create Skilled Iowa Communities across the state.  Des Moines County was the first area to become a Skilled Iowa Community and was quickly followed by others across the state.  To date, the Skilled Iowa Community designation has also been given to Union County, Ringgold County, Adams County, Jones County, Monona County, Lucas County, Keokuk County, Washington County and the City of Onawa.  In order to become a Skilled Iowa Community, the area must meet the following metrics: 10 percent of the employers covering at least 20 percent of the areas employment must be Skilled Iowa Members, 5 percent of the current labor force has achieve the NCRC certification, and 20 percent of the transitioning labor force must receive the NCRC certification.

The Skilled Iowa Initiative has gained national attention for its success from the National Governor's Association and other states looking to implement a similar program.  For more information on the Skilled Iowa Initiative, visit http://www.skillediowa.org/.

Illinois Now First State in the Nation to Prevent Use of Personal Care Products Containing Synthetic Plastics

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to make Illinois the first state in the nation to ban the manufacture and sale of personal care products containing synthetic plastic microbeads. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to protect our natural resources and ensure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.

"Banning microbeads will help ensure clean waters across Illinois and set an example for our nation to follow," Governor Quinn said. "Lake Michigan and the many rivers and lakes across our state are among our most important natural resources. We must do everything necessary to safeguard them."

Senate Bill 2727, sponsored by State Senator Heather Steans and State Representative Jaime Andrade Jr., makes Illinois the first state to ban microbeads in personal care products. The new law will require synthetic microbeads to be removed from manufacturing by the end of 2018 and bans the sale of such items by the end of 2019 in Illinois.

"Lake Michigan is a critically important natural resource for our state, and its health affects recreation, tourism and the flourishing of aquatic plant and animal species," Senator Steans said. "I'm proud that Illinois is an environmental leader, taking the first step away from plastic microbeads toward natural exfoliants, and I'm optimistic that we've started a nationwide movement to protect not just the Great Lakes, but other bodies of water with high concentrations of microbeads."

"This legislation is a tremendous first step in protecting our precious natural resource, Lake Michigan, from plastic pollutants," Representative Andrade said. "This bill would not have been possible without relentless support from our Governor, the business community, and the environmental groups that worked together for this legislation to pass both the Senate and the House unanimously."

"We are very pleased today to see Governor Quinn take action to make Illinois the first state in the nation to ban microbeads from personal care products," Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jennifer Walling said. "It is great to see Illinois be first in the nation at protecting our Great Lakes from plastics pollution."

Governor Quinn has been a strong advocate for protecting Illinois' environment, including the 2012 launch of the Illinois Clean Water Initiative (ICWI). The ICWI has created thousands of jobs across Illinois and allows local governments to access low-interest loans for a variety of wastewater and drinking water projects.

The Governor also signed legislation to prevent landfills from being built or expanding in Cook County and has dedicated $10 million in state funding to improve water quality in Chicago area waterways.

Under the Governor's leadership, the Illinois EPA proposed three new recreational uses for the Chicago Area Waterway System and the Lower Des Plaines River. These new use designations were approved by USEPA and will lead to disinfection of wastewater treatment plant effluent discharging to the primary contact waterway segments.

Since Fiscal Year 2011, thirty-six grants totaling almost $15 million, have been made available to local units of government and other organizations to demonstrate green infrastructure best management practices to control stormwater runoff for water quality protection in Illinois.

Governor Quinn has also forged partnerships with seven nations through the Sister Rivers and Sister Lakes program to share ideas about such challenges as agricultural run-off, invasive species and pollution while boosting tourism and eco-awareness.

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 5815

An Act Concerning: State government

Clarifies existing law regarding the sealing of municipal ordinance violations resulting in orders of supervision or conviction.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 2945

An Act Concerning: Education