By: Celia Murrary

In tough economic times, it is more important than ever for unemployed Georgians to embrace life-long learning opportunities and improve their core job skills. To assist our citizens in that endeavor, Georgia has developed Be Work Ready, a program designed to help unemployed Georgians jump-start their job search, develop confidence and gain a competitive advantage in the job market. Funding for the initiative is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus money).
    A Work Ready Certificate validates an individual’s skill and knowledge levels to potential employers. Individuals take the free assessment and earn a certificate at one of four levels – platinum, gold, silver and bronze. Free, online skills gap training helps individuals improve their Work Ready Certificate level.
    Be Work Ready is available to those age 18 or older who are currently unemployed and have earned a Work Ready Certificate and/or improved their Work Ready Certificate level through skills gap training. Those who have earned a Work Ready Certificate since September 1, 2008 are also eligible to apply. Individuals answer a short questionnaire and fill out an application form at www.begaworkready.org to qualify.
    Be Work Ready also provides unemployed Georgians a monetary incentive for either earning a Work Ready Certificate or improving their skills through free, online Work Ready skills gap training. Be Work Ready testing is available at DeKalb Technical College’s Economic Development Center in Covington. The Morgan County Democratic Party is actively providing information to the citizens of Madison and Morgan County through the distribution of informational pamphlets and encourages all those who are eligible to seek their Work Ready Certificates.
    PS. Thank you for the outpouring of support following the publication of Bob Rice’s letter to the editor last week. Obviously I share your outrage and dismay, but I refuse to participate in gutter politics and will not dignify such utterly false and patently ridiculous assertions with a response. Instead, I invite all to read my column on the tea parties in its entirety on the newspaper’s Web site, www.morgancountycitizen.com. A review of the record will show that Rice’s nonsense is more of the scorched earth, Karl Rove shenanigans we’ve come to expect from Republican extremists and which has cost the Republican Party so dearly in recent years. 
Celia Murray is a member of the Morgan County Democratic Party.