Kentucky Chosen as One of Three States to Create Workforce Academies

FRANKFORT, Ky. — As Kentucky’s employers struggle to find employees with the skills they need, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Workforce Center is leading initiatives to solve the state’s workforce crisis.

The U.S. Chamber Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation selected Kentucky, Tennessee, and Michigan to host statewide Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academies™, an initiative created by the U.S. Chamber Foundation.

The Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center will hold meetings over the next two years to develop strategies to improve Kentucky’s workforce issues.

Participating employers, employer-led associations and education providers will receive training and will build partnerships while using a demand-driven concept in order to connect employees and employers.

“For the economy to continue to thrive, it’s critical for local businesses to be leaders in helping develop a 21st century workforce,” said Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Center for Education and Workforce. “Yesterday’s education systems aren’t meeting the needs of today’s learners and tomorrow’s workers. The TPM State-Based Academy will empower state, local, and industry leaders to tackle this problem. By coming together to develop a statewide strategy for closing the skills gap, business leaders will be equipped with the tools they need to hire and develop a strong workforce.”

Beginning in May, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment, the Kentucky Chamber’s Workforce Center will begin traveling the state to discuss TPM and share information about the program and how its tools and resources can support the efforts of local communities, businesses, and workforce leaders.

Stakeholder meetings will include leaders from local chambers of commerce, the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management, local Workforce Innovation Boards, and the business and workforce communities.

The Workforce Center also will identify workforce champions in communities across Kentucky to serve as a TPM project managers and TPM class participants.

For more information about the Talent Pipeline Management Initiative or ways to get involved, please contact Beth Davisson, executive director of the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center, at bdavisson@kychamber.com.

To learn more about the Talent Pipeline Management initiative, visit www.TheTalentSupplyChain.org.