Bringing Classrooms to Careers
Through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation's Bus to Business® program
Amidst Kentucky’s record economic growth and increasing demand for skilled talent, employers are becoming actively involved in education, helping students develop durable skills and make informed decisions about their future careers. The Foundation is building a strong workforce through hands-on exposure to critical jobs and career paths, starting with the classroom.
The Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Bus to Business® program sparks career exploration early by offering students hands-on experiences with various industries and jobs available within their communities and throughout the Commonwealth, fostering community involvement and career readiness.
Throughout the five years of this program, businesses have provided in-person and virtual education on careers as well as work-based learning opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships, and career coaching, to give students an understanding of what’s possible. This program cultivates critical thinking in students, challenging participants to ask questions and dive deeper into various industries and learn how to become productive collaborators and creative contributors. The program has also demonstrated the benefit of exposing students to the critical jobs in Kentucky, the skills and education necessary to pursue those jobs, and the employers that are ready to hire talent. As employers are realizing that career exploration should start as early as possible, Bus to Business® provides an avenue to engage the next generation of talent.
After attending a Bus to Business® trip to Toyota, Caroline Lyons of Elkhorn Crossing School shared her experience: “During this trip, I was able to see and tour this facility. It also included a panel discussion, where me and my fellow students were able to hear from different employees that work in the Toyota factory. For me, the employees that I listened to the most were the engineers because that is the career that I wish to pursue, and I was able to hear what education they acquired, and what their everyday lives were like as engineers. To me, it’s important for all students to have interactions with employers because it gives them access to information, and it may help them figure out what careers they wish to pursue.”
Bus to Business® forges vital connections between businesses and schools, with employers recognizing the importance of early career exploration. This program helps students identify potential career paths, understand necessary skills, and build relationships with future employers. Gray Construction, an early participant in Bus to Business, said the program provides an avenue to engage the next generation of talent and inspire students to pursue a career in construction, design, and other support areas related to the trades industry.
“Gray Construction is proud to be a Bus to Business® Program Partner with the Kentucky Chamber! Through this program, we have been able to engage with students and educators from all over the Commonwealth. Our Educators Guide event allowed us to connect with over 20 STEM classrooms from all over the state. From that, we were able to schedule additional events with schools, including visiting Henry County’s Engineering classes. We are thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Chamber as we continue to promote the importance of careers in construction, architecture, and engineering,” said Clayton Abernathy of Gray.
