The Jessamine County School District was awarded $760,000 in funding from a $100 Million Kentucky Work Ready Skills Initiative on Jan. 31.

“I am so excited,” Superintendent Kathy Fields said, “Over the top excited.” 

Jessamine County was one of 25 projects spread across Kentucky to receive some of the $65.5 million in first-round funding. The projects are all aimed at providing workforce training and education in advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, business services and information technology, healthcare and construction trades, according to a press release from Education & Workforce Development Cabinet.

“We put so much time and energy into our strategic visioning,” Fields said. “And this is the first tangible evidence that we are accomplishing that.”

The Kentucky Work Ready Skills initiative was launched in July 2016. It is aimed at developing a highly trained, modernized workforce in order to meet the needs of employers, and growing the state’s economy and promoting sustainable incomes for Kentuckians, according to the release. 

“The response to the Work Ready Skills Initiative has been truly astounding,” said Gov. Matt Bevin in the press release. “This important initiative is a key component in our pursuit