DIXFIELD – WorkReady, a 60-hour training program, offered at the end of March for workers desiring to upgrade their employment skills, held a graduation luncheon at the Bear-ly Inn on April 18.

The soft skills training program, endorsed by many area businesses, supplied the graduates with a portable, employer-endorsed credential, signifying that each participant had acquired the skills that local employers want in job applicants.

The following participants were awarded the WorkReady credential:

Rumford: William Kelley, Deborah Koliche, Sandra Nisbet, Marcie Conley and Jay Walsh.

Mexico: Jerri-Lynn Vaillancourt.

Dixfield: Nancy McPherson.

Canton: Lisa Doughty.

Carthage: Laurie Smith.

Roxbury: Theresa Thibodeau.

In addition to receiving their credentials, the graduates presented their portfolios for review to local employers, as well as other representatives from CEI, the Central/Western Maine Workforce Investment Board and the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, the River Valley Growth Council and the CareerCenter in Rumford.

WorkReady was made possible in the River Valley through Betterment Funds, secured by the Department of Education/Maine Adult Education, as well as a partnership between Region 9 Learning Center, Western Maine Community Action, the MaineCareer Center, the Central/Western Maine Workforce Investment Board and Coastal Enterprises Inc.

Keri Osburn, at the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, encouraged participation of the local business community, and the River Valley Growth Council advocated for a pilot program in the area.

Plans are being made to offer another WorkReady program in the fall. For more information, contact Nancy Allen, Region 9 Learning Center, 364-2012.