Home » Mercer County certified as Kentucky Work Ready Community

Mercer County certified as Kentucky Work Ready Community

Letcher, Lewis and Wayne counties have reached in progress level

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2016) — Mercer County has been certified as a Kentucky Work Ready Community and Letcher, Lewis and Wayne counties have reached the Kentucky Work Ready Communities in Progress level.

work readyThe Kentucky Work Ready Communities certification program from the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (KWIB) and the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet assures employers that a local workforce has the talent and skills necessary to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies new jobs will require.

To become certified, a county must gather local support and commitment and apply for the Work Ready Community designation. Counties have to meet criteria in six areas including high school graduation rates, National Career Readiness Certificate holders, demonstrated community commitment, educational attainment, soft-skills development and digital literacy.

“Everything we aspire to economically is contingent on our communities having a skilled workforce that is ready and able to fulfill the needs of employers,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “Earning the Kentucky Work Ready Communities certification gives counties a competitive edge when businesses are looking for a new location or want to expand in Kentucky. I encourage all communities in the commonwealth to pursue the Work Ready designation.”

Kentucky Work Ready Communities are Boone, Boyd, Boyle, Campbell, Carlisle, Clark, Daviess, Fleming, Greenup, Hardin, Henderson, Hopkins, Kenton, Madison, Marshall, McCracken, Mercer, Nelson, Oldham, Pulaski, Rowan, Shelby, Union, Warren, Washington and Woodford counties.

Counties that achieve Kentucky Work Ready status must be recertified every two years. KWIB approved Daviess, Henderson, Oldham, Warren and Woodford counties for recertification at its meeting Friday.

“The Kentucky Work Ready Communities program momentum is growing as more communities learn about the certification and how it can help them achieve a higher level of competitiveness among business and industry,” said Hugh Haydon, chair of KWIB. “In addition to the 68 counties that have achieved certification as Work Ready or Work Ready in Progress, another 29 have submitted letter of intent.”

Applications for the certification are reviewed by a panel appointed by KWIB. The panel recommends certification by the board for the counties that satisfy the criteria. The panel meets four times a year to review applications, which can be submitted at any time.