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Kentucky VALOR (KY VALOR) recently placed its 100th veteran in a job with a Kentucky employer. The program, an initiative of the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation (KSTC), helps service members transitioning out of the military find fulfilling careers in the commonwealth while addressing workforce challenges faced by employers across Kentucky.
“We’re thrilled to have helped 100 veterans land jobs in Kentucky,” said KY VALOR Executive Director Molly Bode. “We work one-on-one with these service members and their spouses every day, and we know that with a robust and growing pipeline, this is just the beginning. We plan to bring thousands of these talented, ready-to-work professionals to the commonwealth to be our coworkers and neighbors in the years ahead.”
“We work one-on-one with these service members and their spouses every day, and we know that with a robust and growing pipeline, this is just the beginning. We plan to bring thousands of these talented, ready-to-work professionals to the commonwealth to be our coworkers and neighbors in the years ahead.” KY VALOR Executive Director Molly Bode
The program launched in July 2022 with funding from the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly and builds on a previous grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to create 44 accelerated pathways to occupational licensure giving veterans credit for their previous military experience. Kentucky is one of only three states with these military-friendly pathways which lead to 55 licensed/certified occupations and cover more than 180 Military Occupational Specialties. In 2024, KY VALOR received renewed funding from the General Assembly to extend the program through June 2026.
“The Kentucky VALOR Program is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when the Department of Defense, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and private industry work together on behalf of our military veterans. Because of the efforts of the VALOR team, our great veterans are being placed in great jobs, and our Kentucky businesses are filling critical needs with some of the finest employees they will ever have,” said Representative DJ Johnson. “Thanks to the VALOR team as we welcome our veterans back into the private sector.”
"Because of the efforts of the VALOR team, our great veterans are being placed in great jobs, and our Kentucky businesses are filling critical needs with some of the finest employees they will ever have." Representative DJ Johnson
The KY VALOR team travels nationally and internationally to recruit service members and their families to Kentucky and currently has more than 1,500 individuals in their recruitment pipeline.
“This is great news for not only the veterans our KY VALOR team has placed, but also for Kentucky employers,” said KSTC President Terry Samuel. “We’re filling workforce gaps for our employer partners with a unique talent pool – one that is highly skilled and highly trained. It’s a win-win.”
To learn more about KY VALOR and to register as an employer partner or client, visit kyvalor.com.