Our Values
We believe in relentlessly experimenting to find solutions to our region’s workforce challenges. We embrace a commitment to equity in all that we do to ensure our efforts help address past inequities and offer fair treatment and equitable access to all customers.
Big Picture Numbers
Top Highlights
future of work summit attracts more than 1,000 attendees
In February 2020, a record-breaking crowd of business people, policy-makers, community leaders, tech enthusiasts, and curious citizens gathered at Tomorrow’s Talent, the region’s fifth annual workforce and education summit, to focus on how artificial intelligence (AI) will shape the Louisville region’s workforce and talent pipelines in the years ahead. Equity was another common thread running throughout the day-long event. See photos and get the full event recap here.
Below: Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Chief Digital Officer for Microsoft US Jacky Wright discuss the future of work.
Summerworks raises additional $1.4 million in response to covid-19
During tough and uncertain times, the James Graham Brown Foundation, the One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund, and the Gheens Foundation backed SummerWorks for an additional $1.4 million, more than doubling the program’s budget for the season.
This funding allowed SummerWorks to place a record number of participants in jobs at community organizations, and to launch the SummerWorks Tech Academy, which paid youth to complete tech courses online.
You can hear from a few of the 2020 SummerWorks participants in the videos below.
career centers and programs adapt quickly to serve thousands of clients remotely
When the Kentucky Career Centers and other program locations closed to in-person traffic in March due to COVID-19, staff quickly adapted to a new way of doing business and effectively serving youth and adult clients online and over the phone.
You can hear from Lisa, who participated in online career workshops, and Courtney, a graduate of Kentuckiana Builds, in the videos below.
tech louisville i.t. training program kicks off in west louisville
Tech Louisville, a new program funded by the AdvancingCities grant from JPMorgan Chase, began training participants in November of 2019.
The program focuses recruitment in underserved ZIP codes in west and south Louisville. Each graduate earns an IT Support Professional Certificate by Google, a valuable credential for beginning a career in the tech field.
You can hear from one of the program’s graduates, RaeDawn, in the video. You can also see more photos from some of the first classes below.
academies of louisville team recognized for its leadership in education by greater Louisville inc.
The JCPS Academies of Louisville Guiding Team, which includes leaders from KentuckianaWorks, was awarded the Silver Fleur-de-Lis award by Greater Louisville Inc. at its annual meeting in January 2020. The award is given to organizations committed to making Louisville a better place to live and work.
Launched in 2017, the Academies of Louisville is a major reform of career and technical education in Jefferson County Public Schools, which is now implemented in 15 high schools. JCPS now has over 17,800 students in the workforce pipeline supported by over 130 business partners.
The KentuckianaWorks Board of Directors and staff are playing a key role in its development and implementation across the city.
You can hear from youth who attend the Academies in their Business Partner Appreciation Video.
Job Placements
Helped 1,603 people get jobs through job training scholarships, workforce readiness preparation, or other direct, one-on-one interventions.
“When you’re homeless and you’re going through a tough situation, you can feel hopeless...to see everyone pitching in to help made me feel good, and I’m glad I focused on the program. It’s been a blessing for me.”
Sidney was experiencing homelessness when he got connected to ShelterWorks. The program helped him find housing and complete his training at the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center. Afterwards, he got a job at Yamamoto making $16 per hour, nearly twice the wage he made in his last job.
Mahagony (right) with her POW Career Coach Yvonne Jones (left)
“I learned money management, how to build my resume, and developed the skills I needed to be successful. My quality of life has improved so much and it started with this program.”
Mahogany got a job at Goodwill Industries after participating in the Power of Work program, which helps individuals receiving public assistance become self sufficient.
Education & Training
“Every time I need to reapply for my college grants and financial aid, I come here (to the KCAC)...I just know it’s going to get done right. ”
Stephanie decided to return to college after surviving a serious illness. With the help of the KCAC, she is now an honor student in the Human Services program at JCTC and plans to become a social worker after graduation.
In the video below you can hear another inspiring story from a client of Reimage, which serves young people who have been involved in the court system.
“The day that I met Reimage - from that point on - my success level has continued to increase.”
Labor Market Intelligence
The KentuckianaWorks LMI team produced a variety of reports on our local workforce as well as new educational resources used in schools across the region.
They also made many presentations to local business leaders, policy-makers, and educators to help them better understand the Louisville region’s workforce and its challenges.
Here are some more LMI highlights:
LMI partnered with the Kentucky Center for Statistics to examine the long-term impacts of participating in SummerWorks in the 2019 SummerWorks Impact Report.
The popular Labor Market Update e-newsletter, which features the latest unemployment rate numbers and analysis, continues to reach more than 2,700 subscribers each month.
Special reports by LMI covered a variety of topics, including:
They also produced an Occupational Outlook guide that presents the projected local job needs over the next ten years, as well as snapshots of jobs in advanced manufacturing, nursing, and information technology.
You can find all of the LMI team’s reports and research here >>
Click above to read full report
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON LOUISVILLE REGION
Serving Seven Counties
The addition of new online workshops and one-on-one career counseling has made it easier for residents of Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties to access career services during this difficult time.
KentuckianaWorks now offers career resources and trainings for adults and youth at the the Hope Center, which is a new centralized community center developed to serve residents of Henry, Oldham, and Trimble counties.
You can hear testimonials from participants at the regional Kentucky Youth Career Center in the video and see more photos below.
Jay is now an Operations Manager at Amazon in Shepherdsville
“I lost my job around the end of March but the online Job Board and staff at the Kentucky Career Center helped me apply to jobs and land a great new position.
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Services to Businesses and Sector Strategies
In addition to providing our regular suite of business services, including facilitating custom hiring events, running employee recruitment campaigns, coordinating Rapid Response activities and more, KentuckianaWorks and its programs have been finding new creative ways to support businesses in the region.
Much of this work continues to be inspired by our membership in the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
A few highlights include:
Working with the Health Careers Collaborative of Greater Louisville to reimagine health services in the Kentucky Career Centers
Helping manufacturing companies build capacity to operate safely during COVID-19 through the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center Employer Advisory Group
Placing tech employees at local companies through the bit502 work-and-learn apprenticeship program
Working with employers, Greater Louisville Inc., Louisville Forward, and others to develop Tech First - Greater Louisville’s Innovation Alliance
You can see how the Kentucky Youth Career Center is partnering with local businesses through their Internship Academy program in the video.
““In five years, when I look back at the pieces that came together to make this company a success, Code Louisville will be a huge factor.””
Weston has hired through Code Louisville and serves as a volunteer mentor for the program.
Thank You
Thank you to our Board of Directors, Chief Local Elected Officials, Program Oversight Committee members, as well as the funders and partners listed below.
Without your leadership and support, none of this work would be possible.
