Special Initiatives
Louisville Forward’s Department of Economic Development works with several local government agencies and community organizations to support key workforce initiatives that improve our pipeline of available workforce for residents and businesses looking to relocate to or expand in Louisville.
Code Louisville is a public-private partnership program with the aim of training software developers to bolster technological innovation in the region. More than 1,000 participants have graduated from the program, which involves in-person mentorships with experienced industry professionals and includes an online learning curriculum.
SummerWorks develops Louisville’s young talent by helping prepare and connect youth to summer jobs, career opportunities and supportive networks. In 2018, SummerWorks staff directly placed more than 1,000 teens and young adults in jobs, and 6,200 youth overall were employed by the program’s partner employers.
To radically scale Louisville’s IT pipeline, KentuckianaWorks and Jefferson Community & Technical College worked to develop an apprentice-style program called bit502. This unique program uses the same operational framework as KYFAME but focuses on IT education. Students in bit502 work four days at a local employer and go to school one day a week to earn their associate degree debt free. GE Appliances, Waystar, El Toro, and Texas Roadhouse are among some of the program’s best supporters and advocates.
