Success StoryCREATE BRIDGES and Prosper Appalachia Partnership - Online Workforce Development for Youth



CREATE BRIDGES and Prosper Appalachia Partnership - Online Workforce Development for Youth

Author: Mercedes Maness

Planning Unit: Community & Economic Development (CEDIK)

Major Program: Economic Development and Workforce Preparation - CED

Outcome: Initial Outcome

CEDIK Senior Extension Associate Mercedes Fraser, coordinator of CREATE BRIDGES, partnered with Prosper Appalachia, Prosper Appalachia, an internship focused on helping youth in the region become work ready, to utilize CREATE BRIDGES’ online workforce development trainings as a part of their course curriculum. Some students had never maintained an email account, so enrolling and participating in and work ready internship and online workforce development course was new and impactful. Interns are currently being surveyed for the impacts of the internship. Twenty businesses in the CREATE BRIDGES service regional participated as hosts for Prosper Appalachia interns during the summer of 2021. Creating a culture that supports employees, whether incumbent or just entering the workforce such as these youth, is a goal of CREATE BRIDGES KY. By partnering with CREATE BRIDGES KY and Prosper Appalachia, the twenty businesses that participated in the internship began the process of inspiring and assisting the younger generation of the workforce.






Stories by Mercedes Maness


CREATE BRIDGES Partnerships lead to Workforce Development Opportunities for Kentucky Youth

about 5 months ago by Mercedes Maness

Educating Kentuckys youth on economically viable job opportunities in their own communities is key t... Read More


Stories by Community & Economic Development (CEDIK)


Community Arts Pottery Expansion Success 2023-2024

about 5 months ago by Jessica Evans

Pottery is a tactile and versatile art medium that heightens the mind body relationship, provides bo... Read More


Empowering Future Entrepreneurs through Data-Driven Insights

about 5 months ago by Beka Burton

At a fall 2023 womens conference in Western Kentucky, I had the privilege of presenting on the criti... Read More