Workforce Training

There are many top-quality post-secondary educational institutions in the South Central Kentucky region, including Western Kentucky University, which is the fastest growing university in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Bowling Green Technical College is part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, which is the largest post-secondary institution in the Commonwealth.

Click here for a list of post-secondary educational institutions within 60 miles of Bowling Green. Miles are calculated as straight-line distance, not highway miles. This information is provided by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.

The Training Consortium of South Central Kentucky

The Training Consortium of South Central Kentucky, an innovative partnership between Western Kentucky University, the Bowling Green Technical School, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, and several partner companies, has brought recognition for excellence from across the southeastern United States. 

The Consortium is an award-winning program. It won the Distinguished Non-Credit Program Award from the Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) at its 2010 international conference. Read the news release. The program was also awarded the 2009 ACHE South Distinguished Non-Credit Program Award by the ACHE South Region. Read the news release.

Also, at the annual conference of the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) in October 2009, Western Kentucky University’s Center for Training and Development received the award for Program of Excellence in the non-credit category for the Consortium.

The Consortium provides effective training for Warren County industries at a nominal cost and holds training locally with minimal interruption to the work schedule. Local industries maintain a minimal investment to gain access to valuable training for their employees.

In 2008, the Consortium began offering non-credit online training courses to its members through Continuing Education at WKU. The online format provides added appeal, allowing the flexibility needed in today's changing workforce. Courses are offered on a quarterly basis and range in scope from accounting principles to customer service to management and supervision.

For more information about the The Training Consortium of South Central Kentucky, contact Director, Regional Development Maureen Carpenter at maureen@southcentralky.com.

Bluegrass State Skills Corporation

The Bluegrass State Skills Corporation (BSSC) was established in 1984 by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as an independent, de jure corporation to stimulate economic development through customized business and industry specific skills training programs. The BSSC works with business and industry and Kentucky's educational institutions to establish programs of skills training. The BSSC is attached to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development for administrative purposes, in recognition of the relationship between economic development and skills training efforts.

The BSSC is comprised of two economic development tools, matching grants and recently authorized Skills Training Investment Tax Credit. The BSSC grant program is available to new, expanding and existing business and industry. Eligible training activities include pre-employment skills training and assessment; entry-level skills upgrade and occupational upgrade training; train-the-trainer travel; and capacity building. The Skills Training Investment Credit Act provides credits to existing businesses for skills upgrade training.

Information on other customized training, assessment services and adult education services can be obtained by contacting the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.