CONCLUSION

WAGE has made a significant difference in Union County by:

• Helping more than 500 adult learners prepare for entry-level jobs.
  
  
• Providing services to more than a dozen local businesses, including formal assessments of the literacy requirements of their jobs, TABE testing, basic skills training for incumbent workers, and, most importantly, a pool of job-ready workers.
  
  
• Establishing and strengthening important connections between organizations and sectors in the community.
  
  
• Making El Dorado attractive to new businesses in the area through its business services.
  
  
• Reinforcing the community college's commitment to and involvement in local workforce and economic development efforts.
  
  
• Tapping into resources not typically available to adult education programs and working to make the most of traditional funding sources.
  
  

El Dorado residents familiar with the WAGE program do not hesitate when asked why WAGE works as well as it does. They give two main reasons. First, the program has enjoyed stable, well-trained leadership. Admiration for the WAGE director's leadership and personal skills is wide and deep. With the state taking an active part in recruiting and training local WAGE leaders and providing ongoing support, local leaders are far more likely to succeed in reaching out to businesses and establishing close ties with other social services agencies, both hallmarks of the WAGE model.

Second, the community's culture of collaboration is a distinct advantage as well. Turf issues have never been much of a problem in this small town. Challenges certainly exist, the most serious of which is insufficient funds. Staff often must scramble for resources, even to buy a few badly needed computers or desks to furnish donated space at the One-Stop. Still, strong leadership and solid partnerships have combined to allow the WAGE program to flourish, helping both learners and employers in Union County.