BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) — A well-known workforce program in South Central Kentucky is expanding its reach in an effort to better connect young people with jobs and reward them for sticking with it.
The South Central Workforce Development Board announced Friday the Ready. Set. Hire. brand will now serve as the official identity for all youth employment initiatives in the region, including those offered through the state’s Putting Young Kentuckians to Work program.
Best known for its annual hiring event in Cave City, Ready. Set. Hire. now includes a range of services for youth ages 16 to 24, everything from career coaching to ongoing job support.
The expansion also comes with new incentives:
$500 for staying in a full-time job for 90 days$250 for completing a school co-op, internship, or part-time job for the same period
“We want to make it simple and clear: if you’re a young person looking to work—especially if you’re heading straight into the workforce after high school—your first stop should be Ready. Set. Hire.,” said SCWDB President and CEO Jon Sowards. “This investment in our young workforce will pay dividends across our region for years to come.”
Services and bonuses are available across the board’s 10-county region, but a pilot program is launching in Barren County to test an even more targeted approach.
The new Ready. Set. Hire. Rewards initiative will offer students at Barren County High School and the Barren County Area Technology Center cash bonuses for completing a semester-long co-op or paid internship.
Justin Browning, CTE and Innovation Coordinator for Barren County Schools, said the district’s strong track record in work-based learning made it a natural partner.
“During the 2024–2025 school year alone, BCHS students completed over 35,000 hours of work-based learning, meeting critical local labor needs while gaining valuable experience and income that bolsters our regional economy,” Browning said.
For more details or to apply, visit www.southcentralworkforce.com and click the Ready. Set. Hire. tab.
Copyright 2025 WBKO. All rights reserved.