Commonwealth of Kentucky
Cabinet for Economic Development

KENTUCKY’S WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS RANKED THIRD IN NATION

Frankfort, Ky. -- Climbing to third in the nation, Kentucky’s workforce training programs have once again received high marks in Expansion Management magazine's annual survey of industrial site selection consultants. For the third consecutive year, Kentucky has ranked in the Top Ten, placing fifth in 2004 and eighth in 2003.

"The ability to have a workforce that knows how to handle the task at hand from the beginning and not experience the inevitable missteps that come with on-the-job training is more than just a luxury. It is a necessity for companies competing in the global economy," said Ken Krizner, managing editor of Expansion Management. "The commonwealth of Kentucky is proving on a continuous basis that it understands this and stands ready to work with companies relocating or expanding into the commonwealth to make sure they have a properly trained workforce from the day they open their new facilities."

"The state has consistently demonstrated its ability to provide a ready supply of educated and trainable workers to companies looking to locate or expand their business in Kentucky," said Governor Ernie Fletcher. "I'm delighted to see our success earning praise from a respected and objective resource such as Expansion Management. Kentucky’s greatest resource is its people and it is imperative that we continue to invest in improving the skills of our workforce to meet the needs of our growing economy."

Highlighted in the October issue of Expansion Management is the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation (BSSC), which is the primary agency within the Cabinet for Economic Development whose mission is to stimulate economic development through programs of skills training to meet the needs of business and industry. The BSSC, in partnership with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and the Council on Postsecondary Education's Kentucky Adult Education (KYAE), has the capability to customize a comprehensive program of skills training services for new, expanding and existing companies.

"Kentucky's workers have shown time and time again its strong work ethic and ability to improve its work skills," said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Gene Strong. "In order to remain competitive in a global economy, it is critical that the state be able to provide an educated and trainable workforce to new and expanding industries. Through the dedication of the professionals in BSSC and the Cabinet's strong partnership with the Education Cabinet, we are able to meet and exceed the demands for a high quality workforce."

In the annual survey, consultants were asked to identify states where they found the best workforce training programs while investigating potential sites for their clients. Programs were judged in terms of financial value, ease of usage and applicability.

Expansion Management magazine, a leading international economic development publication, is published by Penton Media and is distributed to business executives involved in expanding or relocating their business. To see the full report, visit www.expansionmanagement.com.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and new investment in the state. New business investment in Kentucky in 2004 totaled nearly $2.3 billion with the creation of just over 16,600 new jobs. Information on available development sites, workforce training, incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other resources is available at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/.