Governor Lee praises Tennessee Works; board approves minutes and receives committee updates
November 15, 2025 | Labor and Workforce Development, Deparments in Office of the Governor, Organizations, Executive, Tennessee
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"Do you have workers, and do you have power?" the governor asked, summarizing two factors he said companies consider when deciding where to invest. Lee described state investments in vocational education and technical colleges and framed 'Tennessee Works' as a consolidated approach to align services and attract employers.
Commissioner Denise Thomas reiterated that the governor's conference and the Tennessee Works launch created momentum and that recently furloughed Bureau of Labor Statistics staff (13 employees) have returned to work. She also recognized retiring local executive directors Barbara Kaiser (Southern Middle) and Becky Hull (Upper Cumberland) and introduced the incoming Upper Cumberland executive director.
The board approved the minutes from its prior meeting after a motion by Martha and a second by Jackie; members voted by voice and the minutes were accepted. Committee chairs reported on oversight, operations and innovation: oversight highlighted Tennessee Works progress and a plan to have hub executive staff in place by January 2026; operations presented a youth employment program update (an $11.5 million budget administered by 13 grantees, a target to employ 8,000 youth this funding year, and 2,888 participants to date); innovation reported continued local board certification reviews and Tennessee Works training and hiring plans.
Why it matters: The governor's remarks and the board’s expanded authority under EO 109 frame the board’s upcoming responsibilities on coordination, staffing, and recommending evidence‑based policy changes. Committee reports provided operational detail and near‑term hiring and training milestones that will guide implementation of Tennessee Works.
The meeting ended after committee reports and an adjournment motion; the board set expectations for longer committee meetings in 2026 to accommodate the expanded authority and follow‑up work.
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