ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (November 17, 2014) – Governor Steve Beshear announced today that Hardin County has been certified as a Kentucky Work Ready Community. The certification program from the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (KWIB) and the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet assures employers that a local workforce has the talent and skills necessary to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies new jobs will require.
“We are excited that Hardin County has achieved Kentucky Work Ready Communities status and we look forward to certifying many others
in the future. Work Ready status is not an easy accomplishment. Hardin County leaders are to be commended for working together to achieve this goal,” said Roxann Fry, chair of the Kentucky Work Ready Communities Review Panel and senior consultant for the Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development.
Rick Games, President of the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation, who served as the team leader in the project, stated “ The team effort involved to bring this project to fruition was very gratifying. Leaders from local governments, both school systems, ECTC, local industries and other community based organizations all came together to assist in this project. The bottom line is that this will be an essential element to economic development in Hardin County.”
To become certified, communities must gather local support and commitment and apply for the Kentucky Work Ready Communities designation. Counties have to meet criteria in six areas including high school graduation rate, National Career Readiness Certificate holders, demonstrated community commitment, educational attainment, soft-skills development and digital literacy.
Applications for the certification were reviewed by a panel appointed by the KWIB. The panel recommended certification by the board for the counties that met the criteria. The panel will meet four times a year to review applications, which can be submitted at any time.
For more information about the Kentucky Work Ready Communities program, go to http://workready.ky.gov.
Pictured are Ed Holmes, Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, Rick Games, Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation, Alfreda Weedman, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Robert Curry, Kentucky Work Ready Communities, Tommy Wheatley, Kentucky Career Center and Tom Zawacki, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
