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West KY Workforce Board Success Story – Out-of-School Youth Funding

A young woman, pregnant with her second child and employed but struggling to make ends meet, sought assistance to escape low-wage jobs. She met with the Madisonville Community College's Workforce Connections Program on July 25, 2023, to explore career training options. After receiving career guidance, she was determined eligible for the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act's Out-of-School Youth funding from the West Kentucky Workforce Board.

She created an action plan to achieve her educational goal and enrolled in an eight-week course at Madisonville Community College. She earned a Medicaid Nurse Aide Certificate and passed the Kentucky Medicaid Nurse Aide Competency Test on October 17, 2023. She is now recognized on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry and is employed as a Certified Nursing Aide at Madisonville Health and Rehabilitation, earning $18 an hour, starting her employment on October 31, 2023.​

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Services at Daniel Boone JobSight Help Kaitlyn Napier Take First Step in Healthcare Career

Kaitlynn Napier, now 20, learned about the employment services at JobSight, which is located in Clay County at the Daniel Boone Community Action Agency, and soon after enrolled and started working with Career Advisor (now WIOA Director) Joann Nolan, who evaluated what Napier wanted to do and determined what services would be available to help achieve her career goals. 

A partner in the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce centers, Daniel Boone Community Action Agency (NKCAA) provides Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services in Clay and Jackson counties under contract with Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP). Those services include programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who may need assistance honing skills such as résumé building or networking with local employers, or who need assistance being retrained or going to school. 

Napier noted that because she had no prior experience, she was fortunate to have had Nolan's assistance and the services available through JobSight. She wanted to go into phlebotomy while continuing her schooling to gain experience on the job, get used to a hospital setting, and become more knowledgeable when it comes to the terminology used on a day-to-day basis in the medical field. Nolan connected her with a work experience opportunity where she was able to shadow a phlebotomist and help out at a local lab. She added that in addition to helping her find a job, Nolan also helped cover extra expenses Napier had to help her be able to complete her work experience and then transition to employment.

Napier is staying busy at present. She is currently working as a PRN Phlebotomist while also carrying a full schedule as a nursing student with plans to begin working full-time in the nursing field. In the meantime, she recommended anyone near a Kentucky Career Center JobSight location in Eastern Kentucky who is looking for work or just to get started in their job search to give them a call and see if the services there might be right for them, too.

Career Center at KCEOC Helps Knox Countian Elyjah Lay Land First Job

​Elyjah Lay didn't want to wait until he was done with school to get into the workforce and land his first job. He took care of that goal before his senior year of high school, thanks to assistance he received at the Kentucky Career Center JobSight in Knox County.

​Lay was 17 in the summer of 2022 and had just completed his junior year at Corbin High School. He knew about the employment services available at JobSight through his brother, who had previously enrolled in the program. He called and began working with James Siler, a career advisor with the Knox County JobSight, which is located within KCEOC Community Action Partnership's office in Barbourville. Siler helped Lay prepare for his job search and determine what services might be available. 

A partner in the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network, KCEOC provides Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services in Knox County under contract with Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP). Those services include programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who may need assistance honing skills such as résumé building or networking with local employers, or who need assistance being retrained or going to school. 

Lay was eligible for in-school youth services through JobSight, which meant Siler could enroll him in the program, gauge his career interest and aptitude, and begin work to match him with local employment opportunities that would best suit him. He landed his first ever job at the summer food service program at KCEOC Community Action Partnership, which helps fill nutritional gaps for at-risk children in Knox County. He noted that job was a great opportunity at only 17 years of age to get some real-world work experience.  

Fast forward to his senior year at Corbin and Lay continued meetings with Siler and discussing different options, which eventually led him to an opportunity working part-time as a circulation clerk at the public library in Corbin, first after school and then picking up more hours during the summer as he prepared for college.  

Lay earned a full scholarship for college and is currently enrolled at University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, maintaining a full schedule while continuing to work part-time at the library.  Gaining work experience in a real-world setting has been valuable for him, Lay added, and working through the KCEOC JobSight made it easy to connect with that early opportunity.  

Northern Kentucky

After attending the Kentucky Career Center Orientation, Patrick (David) Anderson brought in his WIOA paperwork for the first meeting with a Brighton Center (WIOA subcontracted provider) Talent Development Specialist.   At this time David was receiving public assistance benefits and had not worked in nearly two years.  Mr. Anderson indicated to the Talent Development Specialist how important obtaining a CDL was to him and that he looked forward to starting training if he were in fact eligible. 

After all paperwork was reviewed, Patrick was determined eligible for WIOA Adult Intensive Services on 5/11/2023.  Career Coaching began immediately, and the customer was referred to Brighton Center Family Center after indicating that financial barriers were part of his stressors and challenges.   Further Assessments revealed that an appropriate industry for Mr. Anderson would be Transportation and Logistics and he completed some research about the CDL program at Gateway Community and Technical College.   He was approved to receive training funds for the CDL program at Gateway on 8/2/23 and began class on 8/14/23.   By 9/19/23, David had completed the training and passed the required exam to receive his Commercial Driver's License.  

With assistance from Brighton Center's Business Services Representatives, Mr. Anderson was connected to employers with available driver positions at the Fall Career Fair where he was hired on the spot. Ultimately, he obtained a driving role with UPS where he started to work on 11/1/23, making approximately $67,000 in annual wages.   The Talent Development Specialist is continuing to provide career coaching to David as he is seeking additional hours beyond what is currently being offered at UPS.  

Due to the nationally recognized credential of CDL, obtained from the Gateway Community and Technical College using funding from WIOA, David will have several options for employment in the Northern Kentucky area that provide him the desired additional hours.  Brighton Center is excited to be a part of Mr. Anderson's journey in moving from public assistance recipient with gaps in his work history to full time employment in a high demand industry making a self-sufficient wage.  

Partnership between Colonial Claims and EKCEP Leads to New Career for Renee Coleman

When Renee Coleman decided to retire from her career with Kellogg's, she expected her time would be spent simply enjoying retirement. What actually happened proved quite the opposite. 

Coleman said she wasn't actually ready to retire when she did, but complications that arose during the pandemic led to her decision. As she realized that retirement wasn't agreeing with her, she started looking for other work and landed a position at a paint manufacturing plant, but it wasn't the type of work she wanted to do. 

In early 2023 a family member told her about an opportunity for free online training from Colonial Claims that would prepare her to work from home as an insurance claims adjuster. And not only was the program free, but through a partnership between Colonial Claims and Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) she could earn a regular stipend to cover living expenses while in training.

Coleman applied online and worked virtually with workforce staff at the Kentucky Career Center JobSight in Harlan County to enroll and prepare for the program. In a few weeks, she was notified of her selection as one of 15 participants. The training was offered exclusively online and in a remote setting. Trainers with Colonial Claims provided instruction and information to prepare Coleman and the rest of the cohort to take the Kentucky state exam for adjusters and begin working on real world claims. 

Fast forward four months and Coleman was prepared to pass the state adjusters exam. Colonial Claims offered her a full-time position as a work-from-home adjuster, and in early August she began working on claims.  

As she looks back now, Coleman said the training she received proved valuable, and because of it she was ready on her first day. “They train you, and then they're your support team after the training is over," she said. “So, yeah, [working for Colonial Claims] is like being in a family."  

West KY Workforce Board Success Story – Adult Funding

A low-income adult, raising her children, decided to return to school and train for a career in healthcare. She met with a Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Career Coach at the Kentucky Career Center in Hopkinsville. With tuition assistance from the West Kentucky Workforce Board, she enrolled at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in May 2022.

She completed her degree in August 2023 and was hired at Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville, KY, in January 2024. She now works as an LPN in their Emergency Room.​

West KY Workforce Board Success Story – Trade Funding

A dislocated worker was working at Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd. (MSSC) when the company announced it would lay off the bulk of their workforce, including them. The closure was determined as a Trade-impacted closure by the US Department of Labor. Throughout the Rapid Response and Trade orientation process, the dislocated worker decided to retrain for a new career, as they knew they didn’t want to continue working in manufacturing. They visited the Hopkinsville Career Center and met with a Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Career Coach, where they shared their desire to become a highly skilled Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician.
In August 2022, the dislocated worker started training within the HVAC Program at Madisonville Community College, with occupational training assistance from the West Kentucky Workforce Board. While in school, they began an apprenticeship as an installer with Durham Heating and Cooling, located in Hopkinsville. They graduated with a diploma and Environmental System Repair Helper and Environmental Control System Servicer certifications from Madisonville Community and Technical College in December 2023. The dislocated worker continued working with Durham Heating and Cooling through their apprenticeship and is employed by the company as an HVAC technician.​

KentuckianaWorks is highlighting their Kentuckiana Builds construction training program (a partnership with the Louisville Urban League). The following success stories happened over Q1 and Q2 of this PY.

Diamond Bell is a Kentuckiana Builds graduate from the Newburg neighborhood of Louisville. The Kentuckiana Builds team said she was one of the most driven participants in her training cohort and always kept a positive attitude. “This program is excellent," Diamond said. “More people in the city should know about it." With the help of the Louisville Urban League, Diamond secured a position at Louisville Metro's Department of Public Works. She is also in the process of obtaining her CDL license and going back to school. 

Deshaun Grinter was released from prison in 2023 and decided he needed to change his life. He heard about the Kentuckiana Builds program from family members and enrolled. The program provided vouchers for his work tools and clothes and the Louisville Urban League (LUL) team supported him throughout the training. They even worked with American Roofing to save a position for him when he was arrested and briefly incarcerated again after graduation. Ever since then, he has been thriving in the construction field. He has applied for expungement services and is happily living with his grandparents, who help keep him on track as he navigates his new career.

JVSG success story

The JVSG staff in KentuckianaWorks worked with USA Cares to connect a veteran experiencing homelessness with employment. The veteran will be starting a new career at G.E. in January. The combined efforts were able to find temporary housing for the next month in an extended stay hotel paid for by USA Cares. The veteran is being connected with SSVF and HUD-VASH to help aid in finding permanent housing.

West KY Workforce Board Success Story – NDWG Tornado Relief Funding

In August of 2015, a dislocated worker experienced a work-related injury when they fell from a bridge and severely injured their back. The injury kept them from working for over seven years. During that time, the dislocated worker fell into alcohol and pain medication addiction that ruined relationships, financial irresponsibility, and spiritual deprivation. On December 10, 2021, their house was damaged by the EF4 tornado that decimated Mayfield, Kentucky. Help was slow to come, and the dislocated worker took it upon themselves to begin their own recovery, beginning with addiction rehabilitation.

The dislocated worker learned about paid work experiences available from the NDWG Tornado Relief Grant from the West Kentucky Workforce Board. They felt like they could use the temporary disaster relief employment through the National Dislocated Worker Grant to gain skills in home repair and construction.

The dislocated worker began a work-experience program at His House Ministries' Hope Initiative as a warehouse laborer on November 7, 2022. To say the dislocated worker succeeded is an understatement; they truly flourished! The supervisor could give them anything to do, and they would do it without hesitation or flaw: painting, trim-work, cleaning, networking, yardwork, seeding, supplies retrieval and management, warehouse organization, and volunteer supervision. They worked closely with individual families to recover, adding small details to new houses to make them homes. They worked full-time to ensure that others had beautiful, clean homes and neighborhoods.

The dislocated worker completed their work-experience with His House Ministries on September 21, 2023. To the relief and excitement of their colleagues, they accepted full-time employment directly with His House Ministries. They have exceeded expectations and have proved to themselves that they can not only work but be an asset to their employer, their community, and other people. They continue to share their story and testimony with everyone they meet.​

West KY Workforce Board Success Story – NDWG Tornado Relief Funding

A young lady determined to grow, without a high school diploma or GED, and without any work experience, sought assistance from the West Kentucky Workforce Board's temporary career center serving individuals needing tornado recovery employment services in Mayfield, Kentucky. The young lady wanted to learn about education and employment assistance.

The young lady learned how Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act offered paid work experiences. She was assigned to the Mayfield-Graves Co. Animal Shelter, as a shelter assistant on February 15, 2023. She quickly found her niche: providing dedicated and extra, one-on-one social time with the animals. She developed teamworking and self-motivation skills. Initially, she had trouble taking constructive criticism; however, she began to trust her supervisors and fellow staff and came to see that their criticism was intended to help her thrive. A habit of cutting corners turned into one of diligence and attention to detail. Her love for individual animals helped many of them get adopted, as she was able to present and showcase their personalities.

The young lady completed her work-experience with the Mayfield-Graves Co. Animal Shelter on October 18, 2023. Soon after, she was hired by Pilgrim's Pride in Hickory, KY, where she now earns $17.25 an hour plus benefits. She also earned her GED!​​

Successes - Cumberlands Workforce Development Area

WIOA Adult
WIOA assisted a dislocated worker with their LNP degree in 2017, then they went on to earn their RN degree in December 2023 through the Cumberlands local bridge LPN to RN policy. Currently, they are employed full time at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital as a Progressive Care Clinical Supervisor.

WIOA DW
A dislocated worker is a father of one child and had been receiving and exhausted UI benefits from their job loss in March of 2023. Because they weren't able to find employment to provide for their family with their current skills, they started looking into training avenues for higher demand jobs. They were accepted into the SCC CDL school in October 2023. They completed their training in November 2023 and were able to obtain employment through Mac Transports in Somerset, making $17/hour, which is allowing them to provide for their family. They have expressed their gratitude many times for the assistance WIOA was able to provide for their training.

WIOA Youth/Adult Co enroll
A young adult originally dreamed of doing engineering, but after watching their mother and stepmother thrive in helping others within the nursing sector, they decided that was the route they wanted to pursue as well. They were served at WKU and earned their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They were hired full time at Bowling Green Medical Center two days later and continue to work there full time.

WIOA Youth
A young adult was raised by a single mother. They worked 25 hours a week at Walmart while graduating from Whitley County High in 2023. They began lineman school in September 2023 and completed in November 2023. During high school, they took online classes at the University of the Cumberlands toward an Associate's degree in business and have since continued their post-secondary studies. They are currently working full time as a lineman at APEX and will receive an associate's degree in business from the University of the Cumberlands in May 2024.

West Kentucky Workforce Board Success Story – Adult Funding

In August 2021, a dislocated worker was unemployed and ineligible for unemployment assistance. They had worked in food service for years, but unable to make a living wage. They were ready to make a change so they visited the Paducah Career Center and spoke with a Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Career Coach who assessed their skills and helped them enroll at West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC). They enrolled in an associate's degree program for Medical Billing and Coding.

During their first semester, they struggled with the online classes and they experienced serious health issues that required them to drop out of school. When they re-enrolled, they changed their major to business administration and found their stride. After that first semester back in school, they met with their career coach and requested Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds to provide tuition assistance. Because they had found a program of study where they could be successful, the West Kentucky Workforce Board approved their request.
In May of 2023, they graduated from WKCTC with an AAS in Business Administration.

On August 1, 2023, they began working at Brooke's Holistic Retreat and Wellness Center in Paducah, KY. “Today, I help manage the spa, Brooke's calendar, and rental properties," the dislocated worker states. “Thanks to WIOA, I am more knowledgeable and versatile. The program improved my life and I am so grateful for this opportunity."

Bluegrass Workforce Development Area Successes

A job seeker visited the Kentucky Career Center - Bluegrass seeking employment and had a criminal background that was preventing them from finding suitable employment. A Talent Development Specialist assisted them with reviewing their resume, practicing interview techniques, providing job leads, and partnering with Nesco Resource to secure employment for the job seeker.

A job seeker visited the Kentucky Career Center - Bluegrass in search of a better employment opportunity. They had a job at Doordash but needed something more suitable to bring in more income. A Talent Development Specialist assisted them with developing a resume and connected them with a non-driving employment opportunity that earned more money than they were previously making.

A job seeker visited the Kentucky Career Center - Bluegrass in Lexington for job search assistance. They had been laid off from a property maintenance position and had been out of work for several months. A Talent Development Specialist along with a Business Services Consultant assisted them in searching for employment options and applying for opportunities online. The Business Services Consultant connected with a local property management company and scheduled a Zoom interview. They were immediately offered an in-person interview and ultimately offered employment. The job seeker was very pleased with the assistance from both Kentucky Career Center - Bluegrass WIOA staff.

Bluegrass Workforce Area INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

Virtual Reality Career Exploration: The Kentucky Career Center - Bluegrass offers career exploration and training through Oculus virtual reality headsets. Jobseekers can explore real world job scenarios and gain skills through simulated activities using virtual reality headsets.

Virtual Reality Uses:
• Explore career opportunities • Experience simulated work environments • Gain industry-aligned skills From July1,2023 – December 31, 2023, the Kentucky Career Center - Bluegrass has provided several VR workshops for our partnering agencies, but our main focus has been with the school systems in the Bluegrass. The VR workshops provide students with virtual hands-on experience in high demand career sectors with a total of 797 users and 1326 simulations completed.
 

West KY Workforce Board Highlight – Veteran Opportunity

MANUFACTURING SEMINAR HELD IN FORT CAMPBELL

The West Kentucky Workforce Board held a manufacturing seminar event at Fort Campbell’s Transition Assistance Program in October 2023. The picture includes Transitioning Service Members and Veterans who attended the event to meet local manufacturing employers. During the event, presenters from Toyota Boshoku America and Ascend Elements spoke to their companies’ local and global economic impact, career opportunities, and employee benefits. The two-hour event included a formal presentation by each company, along with informal networking, allowing those in attendance the opportunity to personally connect with an industry professional, thus expanding their professional network. ​

​Represented in the picture: Transitioning Service Members, Veterans, Fort Campbell Transition Assistance Program and Career Skills Program personnel, Ascend Elements/ Toyota Boshoku America representatives, WKWB Veteran Transition Liaison.

Wagner Peyser Success Story

A job seeker came into the Paducah Career Center back in November for multiple reasons, but one of them was to seek assistance finding employment since they'd been laid off from their job at Westlake Chemical. From the time they walked in for the first time that day, and each time they visited after, they were extremely focused on finding a career that they needed and wanted for their family.

Coming from a long line of “plant workers," they hadn't really explored the job market after college like one would expect. Especially, since they earned a bachelor's degree in Sports Administration with a minor in Marketing & Management. They didn't wait very long at all to get to work, and quickly found themselves in a supervisory role at a local logistics company. Finally, they got the chance to work with one of the contractors at Westlake and intended on doing what was necessary to become a union member to earn a good living for their family…just like they'd heard was possible.

After gaining some experience in the industry they always thought was their best option, they began to see that maybe they should explore what jobs are available and may better meet the needs of their young, growing family. Their spouse is established in their teaching career and very supportive of them, and this was all the fuel they needed to make a change for the better for their career path.

They signed up for job services and requested all the assistance we could offer them in finding a job they would be proud to have, but also provide financial stability and peace of mind for their family. We discussed their skills, barriers, and goals as a job seeker so we could better match them with potential employers. We reviewed their resume, making sure not to discount any of the skills they've picked up while in school or employed, and made sure they came in for the next job fair to hand it out. They took our advice and showed up to the job fair the following Tuesday and spoke with all the employers who participated. They were on the “possible hire" list of each one, and even received an offer from the Kentucky State Penitentiary on-the-spot! They said they'd talk it over with their spouse and call with their answer by the end of the week. Their next visit, we asked about their decision, and they told us that they accepted an offer with Premier Fire & Security earning a comfortable wage & benefits package that was good for their family's needs! We can't think of a better outcome for such a deserving and hard-working young person, and we are so glad we got to be a part of their SUCCESS!

West KY Workforce Board Success Story – NDWG Tornado Relief Grant Funding / OJT

A job seeker went to work full-time at their father’s company, Mayfield Grain in May of 1990. They had just graduated from high school and it was their dream to follow in their father’s footsteps of working at the community grain elevator: storing and moving grain from local farms. At the age of 51, they found themselves unemployed and searching for employment.
The December 10th tornado of 2021 did extensive damage to Mayfield Grain. For the next year, they tried to operate with limited capacity and working from various sites, however, they were limited to what they could store. They made the only decision that was available to them: they closed their business.
The West Kentucky Workforce Board offered Rapid Response services to their employees. The job seeker attended and learned about the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act services including On-the-Job Training. They expressed interest in working for Whitford Crop Insurance, as it still allowed them to work in agriculture but they had never worked in sales, writing business contracts, and working in an office environment. They started their On-the-Job training program on February 28, 2023 as an Insurance Agent. In their monthly contacts, they went into great detail about the computer programs they were learning as well as gathering data and compiling reports.
The job seeker completed their OJT on July 7, 2023 and remains happily employed as a Crop Insurance Agent.

South Central Workforce Area – NET Work job & Education Fair

New Americans and Employers Together (NET WORK)
The NET Work Job & Education Fair took place in November 2022 and August 2023, and the Navigator heavily promoted these events. NET Work targets New Americans who are unemployed or are employed outside our  region in order to showcase opportunities for education, training and employment in our region. 

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