August 2011

Kentucky, Indiana Working To Ensure Minorities, Women Share in Bridges Project Jobs

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said the working group’s mission is clear – find ways to expand andimprove the existing programs for workforce training and business education for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs). The 13-member group met for the first time on July 29 at the Kentucky African-American Heritage Center in West Louisville. The meeting focused on understanding the existing training and education programs operated the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer told the group that the Bridges Project is “about more than just building physical bridges.” The project can bring together a diversity of people and groups on both sides of the river throughout the construction process, he said.

The group will meet over the next two months and make recommendations to state transportation leaders. Meetings will be held at the historic Trolley Barn campus, the site of the Kentucky African American Heritage Center, and the Sellersburg campus of Ivy Tech.

The advisory group is led by Kellie Watson, Director of Human Resources for Louisville Metro Government and a former human resources director for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.