Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation

08/28/2026

Kentucky Chamber Foundation Senior Director of Advancement & Partnerships LaKisha Miller shared workforce and education strategies that communities can adapt to meet local needs during a recent Henderson Leadership Initiative session at the Henderson City-County Airport.

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Director of Public Affairs John Hughes also provided a legislative update, helping connect state policy discussions to local priorities and community impact.

Together, these conversations equipped leaders with practical approaches to expand opportunity and strengthen their regional workforce.

08/28/2026

Through its work with Hometown Health, the Kentucky Chamber Foundation is bringing employers, health care providers, and community partners together to help address barriers to employment, including expanding Fair Chance Employment opportunities. Foundation Senior Vice President Beth Davisson recently shared that approach with leaders from the Campbellsville Taylor County Chamber of Commerce, helping extend proven workforce strategies to more Kentucky communities.

Learn more about our Fair Chance hiring work comments below ⬇

08/26/2026

The Kentucky Chamber Foundation recently joined Kentucky's Opportunity Alliance at the National Opportunity Convening, hosted by ESG Education Strategy Group, where state teams from across the country explored strategies to better connect education, employers, and opportunity.

Alongside partners including the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, leaders from workforce, education, economic development, and philanthropy shared best practices to strengthen pathways to economic mobility and meaningful careers. The Kentucky Chamber Foundation was proud to bring the employer perspective to the conversation and bring new ideas back to Kentucky.

Learn more about the Kentucky Chamber Foundation's workforce and education solutions in the comments below ⬇️

08/21/2026

Creativity and problem-solving matter in every industry.

At the Kentucky Chamber's Workforce Summit, we asked employers:

What financial or business skills do you wish every new hire had?

One participant emphasized the value of an entrepreneurial mindset, including the ability to think creatively, solve problems, learn from challenges, and adapt.

Through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation's action grant with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board, we're sharing employer insights to help strengthen workforce readiness and career preparation.

What skill do you think will be most important for the next generation of workers?

08/12/2026

Financial literacy remains a critical workplace skill.

At the Kentucky Chamber's Workforce Summit, we asked employers:

What financial or business skills do you wish every new hire had?

One participant shared that a stronger foundation in financial literacy helps new hires transition into a new field or career.

Through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation's partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board, we're elevating employer feedback to better understand the skills organizations value most in today's workforce.

How can Kentucky better prepare students with the financial literacy skills they need to succeed in the workforce?

08/07/2026

We’re proud to partner with Goodwill Kentucky and RLC-Networks on this innovative effort to help connect Kentuckians with in-demand careers while supporting the workforce needs of Kentucky employers.

This pilot demonstrates what’s possible when businesses, workforce organizations, and community partners come together around a shared goal. We’re excited to see where this collaboration leads and the opportunities it creates for Kentucky’s workforce.

Learn how the Kentucky Chamber Foundation partners with employers and organizations to build business-led solutions across the Commonwealth in the comments below ⬇

Goodwill Kentucky’s Lexington program trains participants for fiber optics technician jobs, with RLC Networks planning to hire about 200 people.

08/04/2026

Leadership skills are important at every career level.

At the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Summit, we asked employers what skills they wished every new hire had. One employer's response reminded us that leadership isn't defined by a title—it's demonstrated by positively influencing others, taking responsibility, and helping move work forward.

Through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation's partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board, we're highlighting employer perspectives to better connect education and workforce expectations.

What leadership qualities do you value most in a new employee?

07/30/2026

Last week, the Kentucky Chamber Foundation Board of Directors gathered for its quarterly meeting, hosted by Board Chair Les Fugate and Brown-Forman Brands. As part of the meeting, the Foundation also convened its first Stakeholder Strategy Session, bringing together educators, students, nonprofit and agency partners, and workforce professionals from across Kentucky.

Participants explored the trends shaping our Commonwealth, the partnerships driving momentum, the remaining barriers, and the opportunities ahead.

Thank you to Brown-Forman for hosting us and to everyone who shared their perspective. We appreciate the thoughtful discussion and look forward to building on these conversations as we continue to strengthen partnerships and expand opportunity across Kentucky.

07/23/2026

Kentucky Chamber Foundation Associate Director of Partnerships Ryan Bowman recently joined the Legal Services Corporation for a discussion on record clearing and second chance employment.

Alongside Barbara Aker of Richmond Baking, a Kentucky Comeback employer partner, and LSC President Ron Flagg, Ryan shared how employers, legal service providers, and workforce organizations are working together to expand fair chance hiring opportunities across Kentucky.

Thank you to the Legal Services Corporation for highlighting Kentucky's innovative work and creating space to explore how these partnerships can strengthen communities nationwide.

Learn more about the Kentucky Chamber Foundation's Fair Chance Hiring work in the comments below ⬇️

07/22/2026

Understanding a budget is not just a life skill. It's also a workplace skill.

Earlier this year at the Kentucky Chamber's Workforce Summit, the Foundation asked employers one simple question:

What financial or business skills do you wish every new hire had?

One response focused on budgeting. Participants shared that the ability to build, follow, and understand a budget is important at every level of an organization, not just for managers and executives.

Through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation's partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board, we're gathering employer perspectives like these to help strengthen the connection between classroom learning and real-world workforce expectations.

What financial skill do you think is most important for students to learn before entering the workforce?