FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 3, 2012) — Gov. Steve Beshear today announced the recipients of five industry partnership grants totaling more than $300,000. The funds, from the governor’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Statewide Reserve, will encourage employers to foster and promote the use of industry-led state or regionally defined sector-focused partnerships.
The long-term goal of industry partnerships is to create an infrastructure that will provide employer-led training and education that enhances skills of incumbent workers and develops career pathways for the emerging workforce.
“These grants continue our commitment to strengthen industry partnerships, build job skills and grow the state’s economy,” Beshear said. “These projects are a win for workers, employers, the region and the state.”
The planning grants, ranging from $62,916 to $65,000, were awarded to Bluegrass Advanced Manufacturing Partnership: Manufacturing Development Collaborative (MDC), Daviess-Hancock Industry Partnership, KEWDC (Kentucky Energy Workforce Development Consortium), Kentucky Highlands SET Partners (Stronger Economies Together) and Talent & Evaluation: Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Warren County.
[pullquote_right]“These grants continue our commitment to strengthen industry partnerships, build job skills and grow the state’s economy. These projects are a win for workers, employers, the region and the state.” – Gov. Steve Beshear[/pullquote_right]
The funds will help employers build a talent pipeline to support the industry sectors that the state has targeted, including automobile and aircraft manufacturing; transportation, distribution and logistics; business services and research and development; healthcare/social assistance; energy creation/transmission; advanced and sustainable manufacturing technology; and technology – life sciences and data centers. Partnerships also may focus on identified, regional industry sector targets.
Administered by the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, the grants were awarded to industry partnerships that comprise a consortium of employer representatives, and where possible, employee associations, organized labor and representatives from the workforce. Information from the industry partnerships will be used to adjust education and training investments to meet the needs of sectors in Kentucky that have been identified through a study as growth industries.
The Bluegrass Advanced Manufacturing Partnership: Manufacturing Development Collaborative (MDC) received $65,000 in grant awards. The MDC’s goal is to align development practices and paths for all serviced classes of workers into coordinated, seamless pathways.
Daviess-Hancock Industry Partnership was awarded $62,916 to strengthen the skill level of current and future workforce in advanced manufacturing by developing appropriate and cost-effective training programs.
KEWDC (Kentucky Energy Workforce Development Consortium) received a $65,000 award to provide support activities to develop a clear understanding of industry workforce needs and of current educational/training programs for individuals who want a career in the energy sector.
The Kentucky Highlands SET Partners (Stronger Economies Together) received a $64,970 grant to develop an action plan to preserve and grow rural health care practices and allied health care services throughout the 22 identified counties in southern and eastern Kentucky.
The Talent & Evaluation: Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Warren County was awarded $65,000 and will use the grant funding to impact the advanced manufacturing sector in the following ways: identify employers’ common needs; develop and support a strategy based on primary data and information; conduct a comprehensive skill needs assessment for the sector; assist educational institutions and organizations in offering training to meet these skill sets; and educate workers about the core skills needed for entry-level jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector.
For more information about Kentucky’s Sector Strategy Initiative, go to www.kysectorstrategies.com.
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