News from the Metals Innovation Ecosystem

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Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board Partner Spotlight

Th Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board virtual partner spotlight event takes place on Zoom on February 7, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. ET. The purpose of the Partner Spotlight is to lift up best practices where KWIB partners have taken an innovative approach to solving a common problem. This virtual meeting will focus on understanding Kentucky’s Benefit Cliffs & 2024 Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plan Direction, featuring Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board Staff. You can join here.

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Manufacturers Day at the Capitol

We are excited to join Kentucky Association of Manufacturers as co-host of the 2024 Manufacturers Day at the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort on Wednesday, February 14, from 8:45 AM - 3:00 PM at the Kentucky State Capitol Building and Annex. Connect with industry leaders and executives from across the Commonwealth as we talk about the opportunities and challenges for the metals industry and advanced manufacturing in the Commonwealth. Register here.

Graphite Roundtable at CAER in Lexington, KY

The UK Center for Applied Energy Research is hosting a Roundtable on the Domestic Production of Graphite on February 20 in Lexington, KY. If you are metals company interested in attending, please contact Vijay Kamineni at vijay@mi2ky.org.

Supply Chain Expo at Murray State University

On Wednesday, March 13, join the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership (KY-MEP) for a regional Supply Chain Expo in Murray, KY! The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Curris Center on the Murray State University (MSU) campus. This event is co-hosted by KY-MEP, the School of Engineering at Murray State, and Haas HFO-Midwest. It will include panel discussions and networking with manufacturers in the metals and plastics industries. Following the panel discussions, there will a B2B networking session to connect small and mid-sized companies with Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers. Contact MI2 Director of Strategic Communications Sam Ford at sam.ford@mi2ky.org if you are interested in attending.

The 36th Annual Kentucky Human Resource Update

The Kentucky Chamber is presenting its 36th Annual Kentucky Human Resource Update event on April 10-11, 2024, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton and UK Coldstream in Lexington. This event offers HR professionals the latest information on a wide variety of key human resource topics, including FMLA, ADA, GINA, COBRA, HIPAA, immigration, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, the Affordable Care Act and more. They are updated on the latest legal developments and will gain a greater understanding of their effects on day-to-day issues in the workplace. This two-day course is consistently rated by attendees as one of the Chamber’s top training seminars. Find more here.

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Registration Is LIVE for the Kentucky Innovator Challenge 2024

Join MI2 at this event, hosted by UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky! Be sure to join the challenge on Thursday, April 11, from 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET. MI2 is excited to be presenting this year! Register today here.

The 9th Annual Kentucky Workforce Summit

Join the Kentucky Chamber’s 9th Annual Kentucky Workforce Summit May 14-15 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, KY. This event attracts the area's leaders in business, education, workforce, and government. The environment creates a prime opportunity to reach and interact with leaders who are eager to learn and are open to partnership. Find more here.

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Help Drive Kentucky’s Workforce

Our partners at the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board are on the lookout for passionate individuals to join strategic committees for their board. This is your chance to make a difference in key areas important to MI2's strategic focus areas: Employer Engagement, Education Attainment, Workforce Participation and Resource Alignment. If you're ready to contribute and collaborate, email kwib.projects@ky.gov for more information!

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In Case You Missed It: Governor Andy Beshear visited the WKU Innovation Campus HQ

We were honored to have Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear join us last week for a visit to MI2's headquarters as part of his tour of the WKU Innovation Campus HQ. We had a chance to share with the governor how MI2's mission fits within a strong spirit of collaboration with our partners in the Bowling Green area and around the state. A special thanks to our board members Mike Buckentin (President/CEO of Logan Aluminum), Tim Caboni (President of Western Kentucky University), and Monique Kuykendoll Quarterman (Executive Director of KY Innovation) -- and many other collaborators--for their work in organizing yesterday's event and in supporting the belief that MI2 holds a crucial place in Kentucky's innovation ecosystem.