IowaWorks Southeast Iowa

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Southeast Iowa Businesses Supporting NCRC

Des Moines County Advanced AutoHappy Joe's  Advanced Home Health CareHawkeye Hotels-Fairfield Inn, Burlington Alcohol & Drug DependencyHawkeye Pedershaab American OrdnanceHoliday Inn Express in Burlington AntennacraftHope Haven Area Development Berthel FisherHorse & Hound Country Store Billups Tire & Service   CenterHoward Johnson's of Burlington Brockway Mechanical &   RoofingIndustrial Service Corp Brown's Shoe FitIowa Jobs for Americas Graduates (IJAG) Burlington Area Community   YMCAJ & S Electronic Business Systems, Inc Burlington Community School   DistrictKPI Concepts Burlington High SchoolLamont Limited Burlington Municpal   WaterworksLips to Go Burlington Notre DameManpower of Burlington Carl A Nelson companyMediapolis Telephone Company Technologies Case New HollandMFS Mutual Insurance Casebine Credit UnionMiracle Car Wash City of BurlingtonNature's Corner  City of West BurlingtonOld Castle Materials Group /Cessford Construction Comfort Suites of BurlingtonPayless Shoe Stores Culvers of BurlingtonPeaches Cafe & Steakhouse Danville Community School   DistrictPer Mar Security Deery BrothersPPG Industries Doran & Ward PrintingRitters Inc. Dresser-RandRuan Transportation Co Farmers Savings Bank,   Burlington/Denmark/WeverRunning Wild Fareway StoresShottenkirk of West Burlington Farm KingSnyder's Lance Private Brands Federal-MogulTemp Associates of Burlington Fleck Sales CompanyTom's Markets and Meats Flint Cliff ManufacturingUnique Personnel Consultants Fresh Coat PaintersWalgreens of Burlington Great River Entertainment   (Catfish Bend Casino)West Burlington Arnold High School Greater Burlington   PartnershipWinegard H & L Mack Truck Sales   Corp  Lee County  Ameriprise Financial-Joshua Denning & AssociatesGriffin Muffler & Brake Center LLC A New Leaf @Schiller'sHair Way 218 Abolt ConstructionHoly Trinity Catholic School Aimee's Hair StudioIndependent Can Company Allied BlendingJava River Coffee House & Bakery Bagcraft PaperconJim Baier Inc. Baymont Inn & Suites of   KeokukKeokuk Area Chamber of Commerce Bix ServiceKeokuk Area Hospital Burrows Paper CorporationKeokuk Community School District CDI Talent ManagementKerr Fabricators Central Lee High SchoolKL-Megla Architectural LLC Chandler's GrillKOKX Radio City of DonnellsonK's Fabrics & More Climax  MolybdenumLaw Office of Laura M Krehbiel Comfort Inn (Ft Madison)Lee Co Economic Development County MarketLee County Bank & Trust Creative Hardware   Manufacturing Inc.Lee County Vet Care Conn CommunicationsMark's Barber Shop Dahms AutomotiveMichael Reu Auto body Daily Democrat, Ft MadisonMt Hamil Elevator & Lumber Daily Gate City, KeokukNew & Used Furniture Store Dana Bushong JewelersPrincipal Financial Group Dave's Marine, Inc.Roquette America, Inc.  Donnellson Lumber Co.Shottenkirk of Ft Madison Dunn DesignsStage 2 Eckland Motors Inc.Taske Force of Keokuk Faeth Cigar StoreThe Avenue Fairfield Inn of KeokukThe Flower Cottage Fort Madison Area Arts   AssociationThe Kensington Fort Madison Bank & Trust   Co.Thomas L Cardella Fort Madison Community   HospitalVandenberg Farms, Inc.  Fort Madison High SchoolW.M. Johnson Truck Line, Inc. Ft Madison PartnersWalgreens of Fort Madison Full Steam Staffing Wilken Auto Body Great River GalleryWorksource Staffing Gregory Manufacturing  Louisa County  ABCM CorpMercy Iowa City Grimm Brothers Plastic'sMrs. B's Puppy Groom Room LLC Iowa State BankS & J tube JD's Irish IvyTri-State Envelope Corp Louisa County DevelopmentTyson Foods, Inc. Louisa Muscatine High SchoolWapello Community Schools Henry County  Affordable Remodeling &   Maintenance IncPeebles Alaniz/MetrogroupPhillips Auto Clinic Anna's PantryRodeway Inn Any Wear ApparelShelter Insurance - Steve Engberg Breadeaux PizzaShottenkirk of Mt Pleasant Dickey's Prairie HomeSound Advice HCI Care ServicesSuper 8 Mt Pleasant KILJ RadioTazza Bella Kramer's Inc. Temp Associates of Mt Pleasant Mackay Mitchell Envelope CoThe Fellowship Cup Momentus GolfThe Halltree Mt Pleasant Area Chamber   AllianceTrue Value Hardware Mt Pleasant High SchoolQuarter Maybe More Store Mt Pleasant LumberWACO High School Mt Pleasant NewsWinfield Mt. Union High School New London Community School   DistrictZ's Quick Break Nypro Kanaak Iowa  Statewide or Regional  Agriculture & Land   Stewardship DepartmentGreat River Health Systems American EyecareGoodwill of the Heartland Attorney GeneralHyVee Burlington TrailwaysIowa Home Based Services Care InitiativesIowa Workforce Development Casey's General StoresIowa State University Extension Office  CenturylinkKum & Go Community Action of Southeast   IowaMediacom Department of CorrectionsMid America Energy Department of EducationRuhl & Ruhl Realtors Department of Human ServicesSmokin' Joe's Tobacco & Liquor Outlet Department of Inspections   & AppealsSoutheastern Community College Department of Natural   ResourcesTwo Rivers Financial Group Department of Public SafetyUS Bank Department of RevenueUPS Department of TransportationWells Fargo

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Southeastern Community College, OIC-Iowa Fertilizer to Ink Training Partnership Agreement

Southeastern Community College and OCI-Iowa Fertilizer will hold a signing event and press conference on Monday, October 28 at 9:00AM in the private dining room on the college’s West Burlington campus.

SCC President Dr. Michael Ash and Iowa Fertilizer president Shawn Rana will sign the training agreement and discuss how the two organizations will work together to prepare for the opening of the company’s Wever facility.

The facility is set to open in phases starting in late spring 2014 and become fully operational in 2015.

SCC’s Center for Business will provide training resources for the majority of OCI-Iowa Fertilizer’s new employees. Once hired, employees will undergo specialized training to enter positions in operations, maintenance, and logistics. SCC will also recruit students to enter into its existing training and educational programs so they will be prepared for employment opportunities with the company in the future.

OCI-Iowa Fertilizer estimates it will employ approximately 165 workers once the facility is fully operational. As a part of its “Buy Iowa” pledge, the company has committed to hiring area workers for positions, and purchasing products and services from within the state of Iowa for the $1.8 billion project.

“We’re excited to play such a key role in this project. The Iowa Fertilizer plant will be an excellent asset for the entire Great River Region. We hope to build on this momentum by preparing our residents to enter careers with many more business and industry partners as well,” notes Ash.

For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit: http://www.scciowa.edu/rss/news/index.html

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SCC Launches Push to Get Students to Complete Their GED

SCC Launches Push to Get Students to Complete Their GED

Current version of GED test set to expire at end of the year

  Persons who have started taking the GED Tests to earn a high school equivalency diploma have until the end of 2013 to complete the tests or risk having to start over. The GED Testing Service will change its testing system starting in 2014. The current version of the GED test, known as the 2002 Series GED test, will be discontinued in December. The scores will expire with the current GED test series and persons will have to begin testing again to earn their high school equivalency diploma.

More than 1,200 individuals who have started but not completed the testing program since 2002 at Southeastern Community College could be affected.

SCC Vice President of Academic Affairs David Schachtsiek stresses the importance for those who haven’t completed their testing to act now. “We want to be sure that everyone is aware of this deadline. Whatever you do, don’t wait. If students don’t finish by the end of the year, they’ll have to start their testing all over.”

Schachtsiek adds that having a high school equivalency diploma opens doors to college, better jobs, and the satisfaction of having a high school credential. It can be a life-changer.

An estimated 250 area residents complete the program through SCC every year.

The last GED testing day at Southeastern Community College will be December 13, 2013. However students can’t simply show up and take a test. They must enroll in adult education classes where an instructor will assess their math and reading skills and help them prepare to pass the tests. Students must pass a practice test in class before being eligible to take the official GED test.

Thanks in part to a recent anonymous donation of $10,000 to the Southeastern Community College Foundation, SCC has begun promoting the college’s GED closeout campaign. The gift will allow SCC’s adult education program to reach out to area residents who have taken one or more tests and to provide targeted instructional activities to help individuals complete their testing.

“We can help people prepare to take the parts of the test they still need to pass. We want them to succeed,” adds Schachtsiek.

The new test series that will roll out in January 2014 will be significantly different than the current test thus making it difficult to merge scores from the two series. Those who have started the testing with the current system must complete all five parts by December 13, 2013.

SCC will continue to offer high school equivalency diploma classes at its sites in Burlington, West Burlington, Keokuk, Fort Madison and Mount Pleasant. It is also in the process of adding classes to accommodate the anticipated increase in participants.

“Classes are open and students can sign up any time, and thanks to a recent gift of $1,000 from US Bank, we can provide some assistance to help eligible applicants pay their test fees,” notes Schachtsiek.

Call SCC’s Adult Basic Education specialists at 866-SCC-IOWA, extension 5314 for information.

For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit: http://www.scciowa.edu/rss/news/index.html

SCC Launches Push to Get Students to Complete Their GED

Current version of GED test set to expire at end of the year

  Persons who have started taking the GED Tests to earn a high school equivalency diploma have until the end of 2013 to complete the tests or risk having to start over. The GED Testing Service will change its testing system starting in 2014. The current version of the GED test, known as the 2002 Series GED test, will be discontinued in December. The scores will expire with the current GED test series and persons will have to begin testing again to earn their high school equivalency diploma.

More than 1,200 individuals who have started but not completed the testing program since 2002 at Southeastern Community College could be affected.

SCC Vice President of Academic Affairs David Schachtsiek stresses the importance for those who haven’t completed their testing to act now. “We want to be sure that everyone is aware of this deadline. Whatever you do, don’t wait. If students don’t finish by the end of the year, they’ll have to start their testing all over.”

Schachtsiek adds that having a high school equivalency diploma opens doors to college, better jobs, and the satisfaction of having a high school credential. It can be a life-changer.

An estimated 250 area residents complete the program through SCC every year.

The last GED testing day at Southeastern Community College will be December 13, 2013. However students can’t simply show up and take a test. They must enroll in adult education classes where an instructor will assess their math and reading skills and help them prepare to pass the tests. Students must pass a practice test in class before being eligible to take the official GED test.

Thanks in part to a recent anonymous donation of $10,000 to the Southeastern Community College Foundation, SCC has begun promoting the college’s GED closeout campaign. The gift will allow SCC’s adult education program to reach out to area residents who have taken one or more tests and to provide targeted instructional activities to help individuals complete their testing.

“We can help people prepare to take the parts of the test they still need to pass. We want them to succeed,” adds Schachtsiek.

The new test series that will roll out in January 2014 will be significantly different than the current test thus making it difficult to merge scores from the two series. Those who have started the testing with the current system must complete all five parts by December 13, 2013.

SCC will continue to offer high school equivalency diploma classes at its sites in Burlington, West Burlington, Keokuk, Fort Madison and Mount Pleasant. It is also in the process of adding classes to accommodate the anticipated increase in participants.

“Classes are open and students can sign up any time, and thanks to a recent gift of $1,000 from US Bank, we can provide some assistance to help eligible applicants pay their test fees,” notes Schachtsiek.

Call SCC’s Adult Basic Education specialists at 866-SCC-IOWA, extension 5314 for information.

For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit: http://www.scciowa.edu/rss/news/index.htmlv

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FInally Free Credit Score

Ok, this is so cool! Now you can get your credit score absolutely free! No strings attached, no credit card required. This is the only site that is legit. I tried it myself to make sure. It was amazing and the detailed information they provide is outstanding.

 Website is:  www.creditkarma.com.

You can still get your credit report for free at: www.annualcreditreport.com

Chart provided by: Good Credit Co.

  Information provided by: Debra Fox of IowaWorks Burlington

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GED Classes Offered in Burlington Iowa

We are looking for the next big name to place on this list:

Bill Cosby

Christian Slater

Chris Rock

Peter Jennings

Gretchen Wilson

Mary Lou Retton

  These people are individuals who initially fell short of their academic success but went back to school to obtain their High School Equivalency Diploma, formerly known as a GED. (Did you know that the official document is called a High School Equivalency Diploma? If not, you are learning already.)

Everyone on the list above has a productive life. And you can believe their journey to obtain the High School Equivalency Diploma was difficult. I bet Bill Cosby and Chris Rock gave their parents fits with their humor and perspective. Mary Lou was probably jumping all over the house. Do you think Gretchen’s parents were happy to hear their little girl was pursuing country music? But look at them today! They have invested in themselves and their education. They are now making contributions in their own way.

What contributions do you want to make? Are you willing to invest in yourself, your education so you can create a path to success? 

Things you need to know:

1.      The entire High School Equivalency Diploma testing changes in 2014 … which means all tests previously passed toward the High School Equivalency Diploma will no longer be valid.

2.      The Writing and Mathematics tests cannot be the last tests taken of the five. Why? These are often viewed as the difficult tests of the five and sometimes people stall and do not complete.

3.      The good news is the Re-Engagement Center at the IowaWorks building on Roosevelt Avenue have instructors who specialize with these subjects. They can give you a quick boost toward academic success.

  If you are ready to invest in yourself, come to the Re-Engagement Center at the IowaWorks building on Roosevelt Avenue and speak with Mrs. Almack. The hours are

  Monday through Friday 9am-12pm and 12:30pm-3pm

Tuesday and Thursday at SCC 5pm-7-pm

  Be willing on your initial visit to invest about two hours to go through placement testing. Mrs. Almack will then prepare an individual academic plan for you. And then … when you find your path to success … your name will be added to the list above. That would be so cool!

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WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD?

A cocktail and an old movie.