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Kentucky Comeback aims to turn 'second‑chance' hiring into workforce strategy, Chamber says
Summary
The Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s workforce recovery program seeks to move qualified people with legal or recovery barriers from the sidelines into jobs by providing employer training, live resources and regional partnerships, panelists said during a live broadcast in Louisville.
The Kentucky Comeback initiative frames second‑chance hiring as a workforce development strategy designed to address low labor participation in the state, panelists said.
"We developed what we call the workforce recovery program, where we want to get more people from the sidelines that are willing and able to work," said Ryan Bowman, director of partnerships for the Kentucky Chamber Foundation. Bowman said Kentucky’s workforce participation has hovered around 54 percent and that employers are struggling to fill openings.
Bowman described efforts to translate recovery and justice‑system terminology into language employers use and explained the Fair Chance Academy that trains HR leaders and managers. He said the Chamber provides free tools and a live online resource so businesses can adopt policies that welcome qualified workers who face legal or recovery‑related barriers.
The panel emphasized partnerships—businesses, recovery providers, justice facilities and job centers—to create pipelines of prepared candidates rather than adding new burdens onto employers. Panelists said the goal is to make second‑chance hiring an operational, not just philanthropic, choice for employers.
