Lansing, MI – The Prima Civitas Foundation and the Mid-Michigan Innovation Team (MMIT) this week unveiled a new 30-second public service announcement (PSA) highlighting the importance of the new National Career Readiness Certificate initiative for the region’s high school seniors.  The NCRC is a key credential for job seekers that demonstrates mastery of applied mathematics, reading for information, and locating information.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor WIRED program through Michigan State University, over 12,000 Mid-Michigan high school seniors will have the opportunity to take a short third test that will complete the requirements for the NCRC (these students took the first two tests as juniors as part of the Michigan Merit Exam).  The Prima Civitas Foundation has embraced this exciting initiative to give every Mid-Michigan high school senior the opportunity to earn this important certificate.

The certificate complements the skill mastery information denoted by a high school diploma or college degree.  Employers from across the country use information from the NCRC in hiring practices; in fact several major employers in the state of Michigan require all prospective employees to obtain the NCRC. 

David Hollister, President of the Prima Civitas Foundation, is featured in the PSA which serves to educate local businesses about the importance of the NCRC and why they should incorporate this credential into their hiring standards.  “The NCRC initiative is an important opportunity for Michigan to be able to catalog the immense talent that already exists here in our state’s workforce,” said Hollister.  He added, “Students from across the region will be better equipped to enter the workforce with this cutting edge credential.”

The PSA was produced by students from the Haslett High School Vision 22 TV Station.  To view the PSA, visit www.midmiinnovationteam.org or www.primacivitas.org.  The video is also available through YouTube under the search term Prima Civitas.  For more information on Haslett High School’s Vision 22, visit www.haslett.k12.mi.us/vision22.

About the Prima Civitas Foundation (PCF)

 

Established in 2006, the Prima Civitas Foundation (PCF) is a regional community and economic development collaborative committed to putting Mid-Michigan first. PCF activities include administrative management of the Mid-Michigan Innovation Team (MMIT) in addition to activities aimed at diversifying Mid-Michigan's economy and promoting job growth. PCF supports the expansion of industries such as next generation transportation, alternative energy, biomass, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and homeland security. In particular, PCF aims to position Mid-Michigan as a world leader in the post-petroleum economy. PCF is a not-for-profit organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.