State is accepting proposals to encourage future growth industries
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 2, 2012) — The Kentucky Workforce Investment Board is now accepting proposals for grants ranging from $5,000 – $65,000 each to encourage employers to foster and promote the use of industry-led state or regionally defined sector-focused partnerships. The deadline for the request for the proposals is May 15, 2012.
“The commonwealth wants to support the development of industry partnerships that meet the needs of the businesses in emerging growth sectors and provides our citizens with vibrant career opportunities and a better quality of life,” said Beth Brinly, commissioner of the Department of Workforce Investment in the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
These planning grants, totaling more than $300,000, will be awarded to industry partnerships that are comprised of a consortium of employer representatives, and where possible, employee associations, organized labor and representatives from the workforce.
Industry partnership applications must specify a state or regionally targeted sector. The sectors include: automobile, aircraft, advanced and/or sustainable manufacturing; transportation, distribution and logistics; business services and research and development; health care/social assistance; energy creation and transmission; and technology – life sciences and data centers. Kentucky’s regional sectors as identified by local workforce investment areas and other related sector details are listed on the KWIB website at www.kwib.ky.gov .
An informational meeting to provide program overview, technical assistance and opportunities for potential applicants to ask questions is tentatively scheduled for the week of April 16. Notification will be posted on the KWIB website.
This request for proposals represents the second of two KWIB planning grant opportunities for industry partnerships. Successful recipients from the first round announcement, awarded in December 2011, were Northwest Kentucky Training Consortium (NKTC): Strengthening Partnerships and Sustainability; Bluegrass: Partnering Healthcare Initiative for Tomorrow; and Northern Kentucky Industrial Park Association.
The long-term goal of industry partnerships is to create an infrastructure that will provide employer-led training and education that enhances the skills of incumbent workers and develops career pathways for the emerging workforce.
For guidelines and to apply for the Industry Partnerships Sector Strategies – Planning – Second Round RFP, go to www.kwib.ky.gov. For further information, contact Pat Dudgeon at 502-782-3032 or [email protected].
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