Partnership to Bring Workforce Academies to Kentucky

States, Local Businesses to Lead Efforts to Close the Skills Gap in Kentucky

 

FRANKFORT, KY — Kentucky is one of three states selected for the next phase of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s signature workforce development initiative, the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM)™ project, which will deliver services to employers in the states to enhance their efforts to build and sustain a quality workforce. The work is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Kentucky, Michigan, and Tennessee were selected by the U.S. Chamber Foundation to host statewide TPM Academies™, where business professionals receive training in creating a demand-driven approach to close the workforce skills gap by building partnerships with education and training providers. The academies provide participants with curriculum, technical assistance, resources and tools, and a peer-to-peer learning network.

“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.”

Over the next two years, participating employers, employer-led associations and education providers in the three states will hold in-person meetings, with technical support from webinars and teleconferences, to develop workforce-improvement strategies. At the respective state levels, these efforts will be led by the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center, Talent 2025 and Consumers Energy in Michigan, and the business community in Tennessee.

The partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation allowed the U.S. Chamber Foundation to launch the TPM National Learning Network in January. This network of TPM ambassadors has been established to align efforts, drive conversation, encourage collaboration, and continue to grow the TPM initiative to reach new states and organizations.

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 TPM project managers and TPM class participants.

If you are interested in learning more about the Talent Pipeline Management Initiative or ways to get involved, please contact Beth Davisson, executive director of the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center, at [email protected].

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

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The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life. The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. We educate the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities, and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.