A primary purpose of postsecondary education is to produce adaptive, highly skilled workers to fuel the economy. Besides talent production, higher education drives economic development through basic and applied research and business services to communities. The following represent the primary activities underway at the state level.

■ Healthcare Workforce Collaborative (HWC): The HWC's goal is to grow the pipeline of healthcare workers in Kentucky. HWC is comprised of healthcare professionals, institutional representatives and government and community partners, and it meets bimonthly to discuss short- and long-term solutions to Kentucky's healthcare worker shortage. The HWC oversaw $8 million in grants awarded to campuses to support healthcare academic programs, student recruitment into the programs and improved pathways from high school to college-level healthcare programs.

Healthcare Workforce Collaboratory. The Collaboratory brought together almost 200 policy experts, state leaders and representatives from college campuses and the healthcare industry to consider solutions for meeting healthcare workforce shortages and increasing future capacity. The event featured sessions and networking opportunities to help bridge the gap between postsecondary institutions and workforce partners. An awards ceremony recognized Secretary Eric Friedlander, Senator Robert Stivers and Representative Ken Fleming as 2023 Innovative Healthcare Leaders.

■ Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund (HWIF): Established by HB 200, the HWIF is a public-private partnership to provide healthcare training scholarships for Kentucky resident students and incentives to reward high-performing healthcare professional programs. Staff has filed the appropriate regulations, established and convened a steering committee, developed an implementation plan and is preparing for the first submission of funding proposals in July 2024.

■ Aerospace, Aviation and Defense Investment Fund: CPE was tasked with administering the Kentucky Aerospace, Aviation and Defense Investment Fund. Eligibility for this fund not only includes postsecondary aviation programs, but also extends to public high school vocational programs. An advisory committee of industry and postsecondary experts will advise CPE staff and help set criteria for the fund's review processes. Currently the fund has not received an appropriation, but CPE is moving forward with administrative regulations and steering committee appointments.

is moving forward with administrative regulations and steering committee appointments.

CLIMB-Health Initiative: Career Ladders in Mental and Behavioral Health is an initiative for individuals with lived experience in addiction recovery. It provides participants with an initial peer support specialist certification, with the goal of encouraging them to obtain a series of stackable certifications culminating in an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services through KCTCS, and/or a bachelor's degree in social work at a participating four-year university. Nine KCTCS colleges have committed to the initiative, and almost 1,000 students enrolled in the program in the first year. Each CLIMB college is collaborating with regional partners to develop expanded employer, agency and provider participation. Those partners were assembled for a day-long convening in May at The Campbell House in Lexington.

■ Career Development Officers: CPE launched the Career Development Officers (CDO) affinity group, which is comprised of workforce and career services professionals from the state's public and private postsecondary institutions. The group's purpose is to operate as a resource; to share innovative ideas, policies, and strategies; and to assist those on Kentucky campuses who oversee and work within career services or career development departments. Meetings occur bimonthly, and staff are in the midst of planning and in-person symposium for July 2024.

■ CPE as a Liaison and Partner: CPE continues to act as a liaison with state workforce and economic development agencies to ensure higher education is part of the state's overall economic development strategy. Staff participates in the Statewide Workforce and Talent Team (SWATT), which ensures employees have the skills and credentials existing and prospective employers need. CPE also partners with the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (KWIB) and its subcommittees to identify high-demand occupations and prepare more Kentuckyans for these openings.

■ Research and Workforce Development Funding: CPE oversaw the $2.2 million Workforce Development Trust Fund distribution to 15 community and technical colleges to increase capacity for programs that address industries' needs for critical workers. To date, universities have used 45% of the state's recent investment of $40M to the Bucks for Brains initiative.