Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board focuses on collaboration to shape future

A thriving workforce, like the one we have here in the Lincoln Trail region, doesn’t happen on its own. It requires a collective effort, including strong employers who draw talent to the area, top-notch educational and training institutions, workforce development organizations to facilitate quality partnerships between employers and prospective employers and leaders that can help attract business and address overarching obstacles. 

To ensure these key components work together seamlessly, it’s essential to have a group of committed community leaders focused on the details of these relationships and the continued growth of our region’s workforce. This is the mission of the Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board (LTWDB), a board I’ve had the privilege of serving on since 2018 and currently chair.

LTWDB is made up of 25 business and community leaders from across Central Kentucky, working to oversee career centers, youth services and employment and training initiatives funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Additionally, the board fosters relationships with economic development and employer communities, encourages private sector involvement in workforce development and collaborates with local education and training institutions.

While I am proud of the progress we’ve made in these areas, there is still much work ahead. A key metric our board closely monitors is the Labor Force Participation Rate in the region, which reflects the percentage of the working-age population actively engaged in the labor force. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 63% of the U.S. population over the age of 16 is in the labor force, and in Kentucky, that number stands at 59.2%. However, when we average the labor force participation rates of the eight counties in the Lincoln Trail region, the rate drops to around 57.5%. Even more concerning, the average labor force participation rate for women over the age of 16 in our region is just 53.6%.

This data highlights significant barriers preventing local residents not only from finding work but from being part of the workforce at all. Key challenges to economic development in our region include limited access to childcare, transportation, affordable housing and mental health or substance abuse issues. These are critical issues that LTWDB will focus on addressing in the coming years through collaboration with community partners. 

In addition to helping to address these pressing issues, one of the top priorities of LTWDB is to further strengthen one of our workforce's most vital pillars: our Career Centers. Kentucky Career Centers serve as a one-stop solution for both job seekers and employers, offering a wide range of services. In the Lincoln Trail region, we have Career Center locations in Bardstown, Elizabethtown, Fort Knox, Lebanon and Leitchfield.

As board chair, one of my main goals moving forward is to build stronger connections with employers, local chambers of commerce and school systems to raise awareness of the valuable services Career Centers provide. When people think of the local workforce, we want them to immediately think of the Career Center and the dedicated individuals leading the charge at each of these local centers.

By fostering collaboration among employers, educators, workforce development organizations and community leaders, we can build a stronger, more resilient workforce in the Lincoln Trail region.

To learn more about the Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board, visit ltcareercenter.org/board. To learn more about resources provided through the Kentucky Career Center - Lincoln Trail, visit ltcareercenter.org. 

Lance Blanford serves as Board Chair for the Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board.