|
Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Governor Beshear launches $46 million program to put thousands of Kentuckians to work
WorkNow Kentucky targets disadvantaged youth and adults with children
 FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear today announced Kentucky will put nearly 10,000 disadvantaged youth and adults with children to work this summer through WorkNow Kentucky. Funded with nearly $46 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the program aims to jump-start job creation by subsidizing the wages and benefits of eligible participants who are hired through the program.
“With unemployment still in double digits, our number one goal is to put Kentuckians back to work,” said Gov. Beshear. “WorkNow Kentucky is a win-win project for our employers and job seekers across the Commonwealth. This gives them the opportunity to form thousands of mutually beneficial partnerships. While those in need get essential work training and experience, our employers get the resources to expand their workforce and increase productivity for free.”
WorkNow Kentucky is made available through a collaborative effort of Kentucky’s workforce and human services agencies. The Education and Workforce Development Cabinet and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services are partnering to administer the program through Kentucky’s network of One-Stop Career Centers.
Businesses that participate will have the opportunity to hire motivated employees to their workforce at little or no cost. Employers will receive 100 percent reimbursement of participating employees’ wages and benefits at the same rate as an entry-level, full-time employee.
Eligible employees, including low-income family members residing in Kentucky, will have the opportunity to gain work experience and a paycheck. In addition, the program provides an immediate connection to the current labor market and a professional employment reference for future job opportunities.
The $46 million infusion will help Kentucky’s economic recovery by boosting productivity of businesses without increasing overhead costs. It also will aid the state’s economy when those dollars earned by participants are spent locally for goods and services.
The WorkNow Kentucky subsidy is scheduled to end Sept. 18, 2010. Applications and information for both employers and employees interested in the summer work program are available at One-Stop Career Centers across the state or online at http://worknow.ky.gov.
###
|