Pictured above are: Debbie True, County Treasurer; Kim Milward, Economic Development Planner – NWMO Regional Council of Governments (NWMORCOG); Tracy Cooper, Tarkio Guidance Counselor; Arnie Kreek, retired Economic Development Planner – NWMORCOG; Shauna Farmer, Rock Port Guidance Counselor; Keli Morris, NW Missouri Enterprise Facilitation; Michael Goins and Angie Vernon, Rock Port Telephone and Midwest Data Center; Carol Clark, ACDC; Susette Taylor, County Clerk; Monica Bailey, ACDC Director; Lori Seymour, ACDC President; Melissa Woltcamp, Manager, Workforce Program Services & Staff Training – MO Division of Workforce Development; Lisa Hostetler, Executive Director – Northwest Workforce Development Board; Becky Wiederholt, KC Metro Workforce Coordinator – MO Division of Workforce Development; Lori Jones, County Assessor; Sheri Shenewerk, North Missouri Workforce Coordinator – MO Division of Workforce Development; Ann Schlueter, Community Hospital – Fairfax; and Marisa Hedlund, Fairfax Guidance Counselor.

In May, 2018, Atchison County achieved designation as a Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC). The initiative helps communities validate skills and knowledge of their workforce to the business community. In honor of this achievement, a ceremony was held at the Atchison County Courthouse on Thursday, August 9, at 11 a.m. Monica Bailey, Atchison County Development Corporation Director; Lisa Hostetler, NW Workforce Development Board Director; and Melissa Woltcamp, MO Division of Workforce Development Manager, provided comments on the impact of this designation.
Representatives of the three Atchison County employers that have signed on in support of this program, Community Hospital-Fairfax, Midwest Data Center, and Atchison County, were in attendance as well as over a dozen additional members of the community and region.
Businesses that are interested in signing up to be a part of this initiative can contact Monica at ACDC (director@atchisoncounty.org; 660-744-6562) or go directly to the website (https://www.workreadycommunities.org/MO/005) for more information.