Mercer County becomes “Kentucky Work Ready Community”

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The state says Mercer County has been certified as a Kentucky Work Ready Community. And it says Letcher, Lewis and Wayne counties have reached the Kentucky Work Ready Communities in Progress level.

“I am excited to announce that we now have 68 counties that have achieved certification by the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (KWIB) and there are several others in progress,” Governor Bevin said. “Everything we aspire to economically is contingent on our communities having a skilled workforce that is ready and able to fulfill the needs of employers. Earning the Kentucky Work Ready Communities certification gives counties a competitive edge when businesses are looking for a new location or want to expand in Kentucky. I encourage all communities in the Commonwealth to pursue the Work Ready designation.”

The Kentucky Work Ready Communities certification program from KWIB and the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet is designed to assure 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.

The state says that since certification began in 2012, the counties of Boone, Boyd, Boyle, Campbell, Carlisle, Clark, Daviess, Fleming, Greenup, Hardin, Henderson, Hopkins, Kenton, Madison, Marshall, McCracken, Mercer, Nelson, Oldham, Pulaski, Rowan, Shelby, Union, Warren, Washington and Woodford have been designated as Kentucky Work Ready Communities.