NKWIB: A big piece of the workforce puzzle
Workforce development can feel complex—and that’s because it is. Building a strong workforce doesn’t happen in silos. It takes employers, schools, nonprofits, economic development partners, trade associations, and state agencies all moving in the same direction. In Northern Kentucky, the organization that brings all of those players together is the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (NKWIB).
The NKWIB is where strategy meets action. It is a powerful public–private partnership, led by business—at least 51% of its members come directly from the private sector. That business-driven leadership shapes workforce policy, sets priorities, and oversees funding for the local workforce system serving the eight-county Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD). The NKADD serves as both the fiscal agent and home for the NKWIB. One of only ten Workforce Investment Boards in Kentucky, the NKWIB operates under the oversight of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.
While federal and state rules prevent the NKWIB from delivering services directly, the Board ensures those services reach the people and businesses who need them most by contracting with trusted local partners to provide:
One-Stop Operator services, coordinating a network of 19 Kentucky Career Center partners across the region. Brighton Center serves as the One-Stop Operator, keeping this complex system running smoothly. Read more about the 19 partners here.
Adult and Dislocated Worker Services, also provided by Brighton Center, offering career coaching, training opportunities, and support services—often with access to funded training.
Youth Services, delivered by the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission (NKCAC), helping young adults (ages 16-24) prepare for, access, and succeed in employment.
Business Services, provided by Brighton Center and the NKADD, supporting employers as they recruit, train, and retain talent.
The NKWIB is led by Director Correy Eimer. Correy is also the Director of NKY Works. In fact, the NKWIB and NKY Works are “sister” initiatives, administered through NKADD and sharing the common mission of creating a vibrant workforce that continually meets the needs of employers throughout our region. The current NKWIB Chair, Brian Bozeman of Skanska USA Building, Inc., is also involved in NKY Works with a particular interest in the Talent Attraction and Promotion Focus Area.
The NKWIB meets every other month on the second Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the NKADD, 22 Spiral Drive in Florence. Meetings are open to the public. Join us at the next one on January 13—and experience firsthand how workforce development really gets done in Northern Kentucky.