Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) released the following statement this afternoon after North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory's announcement of the NCWorks initiative:

“I am thrilled to learn of yet another public-private partnership taking place in our state. NCWorks is an important new initiative that will serve citizens by providing them with the necessary skill sets and training they need to succeed, all the while making our state’s business climate more competitive. Pairing our state’s stellar community college system with top-tier industries across North Carolina will provide a focused approach to supplying job seekers with the right foundation for lasting careers.”

“We are fortunate to have first-rate educational resources within our state—particularly ones that prioritize the expansion of opportunities to all. NCWorks will provide our citizens with a clear advantage in the work force, and I look forward to doing what I can on the federal level to help projects like this thrive. I applaud Governor McCrory, Secretary Decker and all who made this possible for today's success."

Last month, Congresswoman Ellmers penned an op-ed in The Sanford Herald touting the importance of public-private partnerships in North Carolina.

This morning, Governor Pat McCrory and Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker joined state officials in announcing "NCWorks," a major initiative that will promote one consistent, cohesive strategy for workforce development across North Carolina. Governor McCrory made the announcement at Caterpillar Inc. in Sanford, which is part of Congresswoman Ellmers' Second District.

Below is a summary of the five steps that will help connect NC employers to the NC employees they need to succeed in our state and help our citizens improve their quality of life:

1) Work with one name -- NCWorks, one portal and one goal for all our workforce development partners.

2) Optimize a stronger response to business needs by creating a unified position in Community Colleges and Commerce. In six months, Will Collins and his team will develop a plan for how all of our business-focused workforce service can work better together.

3) Recharge the Commission on Workforce Development to take advantage of the industry and state leaders who sit on that commission to lead a new strategic era of workforce collaboration.

4) Keep a consistent flow of timely, high-quality data going to our workforce partners so our decisions are based on the best data available.

5) Scan the needs of our businesses and the effectiveness of our workforce programs based on industry feedback: 1,000 companies in 100 counties in 100 days.

The N.C. Commission on Workforce Development recommends policies and strategies that enable the state's workforce and businesses to compete in the global economy. The commission is designated as the state's Workforce Investment Board under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Led by a private sector chair, the 25-member commission includes representatives from the business community, heads of state workforce agencies, educators, community leaders and representatives from organized labor. All members are appointed by the governor.