SCKY Foundation for Workforce Development Inc., the nonprofit arm of the South Central Workforce Development Board, held its first meeting Wednesday morning.

Spencer Coates, president of Houchens Industries Inc., was elected chairman for the board. Wayne Goodrum, of Franklin Electric Plant Board and treasurer of the workforce board, was elected to serve as treasurer and Jim Scott of Scotty’s Contracting was selected as board secretary.

The board members adopted their articles of incorporation and bylaws and discussed the role of the non-profit board meeting in the board room of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce in Bowling Green.

Three officers of the workforce board, Board Chairman Ron Sowell of Med Center Health, Terri Wiethorn of Fruit of the Loom, and Goodrum, also serve on the non-profit board. Both boards will eventually be run by a chief executive officer and president slated to be hired by the 10-county workforce board later this month.

Other SCKY Foundation board members are Patrick Ross, a Horse Cave attorney with Hensley & Ross; Robbin Johnson of Chad’s Body Shop; Brian Clemmons of South Central Bank; Mike Murphy of Scott, Murphy and Daniel; and Kristy McCrory, vice president of human resources for Fruit of the Loom.

Regina Jackson, an attorney for English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, serves as the board’s legal counsel.

Chamber Chief Operations Officer Meredith Robinson told the new board that its role will be to raise private-sector money to augment the just under $2 million the regional workforce board receives annually in federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act money. The city of Bowling Green will act as the new board’s fiscal agent.

Coates immediately focused on the key issue facing the new board, how to quickly and efficiently identify qualified job candidates and match them with employers in the region. Houchens Industries is the region’s largest employer in the region with 5,000 workers. Western Kentucky University is second in the region with 3,455 employees and Med Center Health is third with 3,400.

“We need a chat with the governor,” Coates said.

Gov. Matt Bevin has outlined his vision for Kentucky to host the best advanced manufacturing sector in the nation.

The chamber has identified about $10 million in federal dollars received annually by agencies in the region for the workforce mission. The state of Kentucky spends about $1.3 billion annually on its workforce operations.

“The best use of public dollars we have seen is training in peer programs where someone is brought in to train them,” Coates said.

Coates said the job referrals system as it currently operates in Kentucky is nothing more than a “check collection process” for applicants.

“We are going to have to change that culture from the top,” he said.

The local chamber is working with state workforce officials to design a pilot program on workforce service delivery and setting up job referrals to meet employers’ needs. It is also working with agencies that handle federal dollars targeted for workforce operations in the region.

“It is all about execution,” said Ron Bunch, president and chief executive officer of the chamber, speaking about the identified partners. “They need to work together and be highly performing together.”

Lori Strumpf, owner of Strumpf Associates in Washington, D.C., has already met with the chamber’s identified partners, and meetings will continue monthly.

According to federal law, these partners should all be part of a one-stop workforce center: Kentucky Adult Education; Community Action of Southern Kentucky; Housing Authority; Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College; Office for Vocational Rehabilitation; Office for the Blind; Experience Works; ResCare Workforce Services (trade adjustment assistance and WIOA services to adult, dislocated workers and youth); Office of Employment Training (unemployment insurance and Wagner-Peyser Act); Great Onyx Job Corps Center; and Kentucky Farmworkers.