Boone County Schools, Brighton Center, the Enzweiler Building Institute, Freestore Foodbank and Northern Kentucky University are among the 39 finalists still in the running for the new $100 million workforce bond program aimed at Work Ready Skills Initiatives across the state.
The Work Ready Skills Advisory Committee, formed to review and select project proposals for the Commonwealth’s new $100 million workforce bond program, met last Friday and narrowed the list of potential recipients of first-round funding to 39 proposals totaling more than $192 million.
Eighty-three full applications, totaling more than $455 million in requests, were under consideration last week.
Announced by Governor Matt Bevin and Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner in July, the Kentucky Work Ready Skills Initiative is aimed at developing a highly trained, modernized workforce to meet the needs of employers and promote sustainable incomes for Kentuckians.
The committee plans to award up to $65 million during this year’s initial funding round and to reserve at least $35 million for a second application cycle in 2017.
Individual project funding requests range from $38,000 – $28 million. Proposals come from all 10 state workforce areas and address a wide array of key industry sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, technology, transportation, and construction/trades.
The 10-member Work Ready Skills Advisory Committee has also scheduled meetings for Dec. 14 and 15, when they plan to conduct interviews with select finalists for whom they would like additional information.
Education and Workforce Development Cabinet staff will also conduct site visits for projects requesting less than $1 million for building renovations and/or equipment purchases.
The committee’s goal is to make first-round funding announcements before the end of the year.
All applicants not advancing in this round are encouraged to submit a proposal during the next funding cycle (details available in mid-December).
See this document online at Work Ready Finalists.
For more information about the Kentucky Work Ready Skills Initiative visit the KentuckyWorkReady site