A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Kentucky Career Center provided record number of services to local employers in 2017


2017 was a landmark year for the Kentucky Career Center, Northern Kentucky’s largest career preparation and workforce development network. Although many have known the career center primarily as a resource for job seekers, this past year, a record number of business services were provided to local employers.

A new Operator and Lead Service Provider Brighton Center, Inc. was selected by the Northern KY Workforce Investment Board (NKWIB), the Board of local business leaders and community representatives who oversee the Kentucky Career Center network.

2017 also ushered in new youth and young adult career services, SNAP Employment and Training recipients, employer hiring events, and innovative workforce training onsite at the career center. But 2017 was just a warm-up for 2018, which will bring about even more career center offerings for local job seekers and employers in Northern Kentucky.

“Our goal is to help job seekers position themselves for high-demand jobs that offer competitive wages and benefits, leading to individual and family self-sufficiency,” said Talia Frye, Brighton Center’s Workforce Development Director.

Through a network of programs, the Kentucky Career Centers offer an array of skill-building workshops and case management services intended to help job seekers maximize their earning potential. Examples include Job Search Success workshops, resume and interviewing workshops, and professional networking opportunities.

An example of an innovative, high-impact program offered at the Kentucky Career Center in Covington is the Child Development Associate (CDA) program. Led by Brighton Center, early childhood partners, including 4C for Children, NKCAC Head Start and Children, Inc., have come together to create a top-notch CDA program that can be completed in just 15 weeks. With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, this program saw its first cohort of graduates, nine, earn their Child Development Associate Degrees in the fall of 2017, and the second cohort of program participants, which is twice the size of the first, is on target to graduate in April.

“We’re very excited about this program, which is not only helping individuals obtain a sought-after credential, but it’s helping address the need for more childcare options in our community. Reliable childcare, or the lack thereof, is often cited by employers as being a barrier to employment for many potential job candidates. Our CDA program is helping reduce that barrier by introducing more qualified early childcare professionals into the labor market, which will result in more high-quality childcare options for our community’s job seekers,” said Frye.

Multiple career center partners stand ready to assist individuals with overcoming other barriers to employment. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), the Office for the Blind (OFB), Ohio Valley Goodwill and the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) are among the programs that are available to support individuals on their journey toward making gainful employment a reality.

The NKWIB has identified five ‘high-demand industry sectors’ for the Northern Kentucky region. Through the NKWIB, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds are being made available to help job seekers pay for career training opportunities that align with the aforementioned high-demand sectors which include: Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics, Healthcare, IT/Business/Finance, and Installation, Maintenance & Repair. Job seekers are encouraged to contact or visit their local Kentucky Career Center for more information about these career training opportunities.

“The NKY Workforce Investment Board drives the local workforce development system to support job seekers and businesses, improve our local workforce and, ultimately, enhance our local economy. Now more than ever, our region needs to help employers identify and hire qualified talent and, in turn, help job seekers with obtaining career-oriented employment – and that work starts with the Kentucky Career Center,” said Barbara Stewart, NKY Workforce Investment Board Director.

The Kentucky Career Center is charged with serving our region’s employers as well as job seekers, and service to local employers may be the center’s most important work right now.

“In our current economic climate in which skilled workers are at a premium, the Kentucky Career Center is striving to increase and enhance our partnerships with local employers to help more of them get connected with highly-qualified employees,” said Correy Eimer, Kentucky Career Center Operator.

Employers have made it known that one of today’s greatest challenges is attracting and retaining qualified workers. Through hosting job fairs and applicant pre-screening, training, and hiring events for employers – the Kentucky Career Center is helping. The Kentucky Career Center Business Services’ Team can facilitate apprenticeships and on-the-job training experiences mutually beneficial for the employer and the job seeker.

“In order to meet our region’s workforce needs, it takes cooperation and collaboration between our region’s business community, economic development agencies, workforce development providers, and education institutions. In 2018, we will see these partnerships grow and become more strategic in our collective work,” stated Andrew Aiello, NKY Workforce Investment Board Chair and TANK’s General Manager.

In Northern Kentucky, career centers can be found in Covington, Florence and Carrollton, with plans underway to add a center in Grant County. Learn more about the Kentucky Career Centers in NKY by visiting www.nkcareercenter.org.


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