Making Strides in White County Workforce

Jackson Kayak Make Strides in the Development of the the White County Workforce by Partnering with Workforce Connections

Jackson Kayak is one of the recipients of the Incumbent Worker Training Grant for the 2024-2025 program year. Jackson Kayak applied for the IWT grant, was selected by Workforce Connections business services, and was approved for funding by the Upper Cumberland Local Workforce Development Board. The State of Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce releases the Incumbent Worker Training funds annually. Workforce Connections awards IWT funds to businesses in the Upper Cumberland that are committed to upskilling and investing in their current workforce by providing new training opportunities. IWT money can increase employees' skill sets, support workforce retention, and potentially create backfill opportunities for employers.

We are excited that Jackson Kayak used this money to provide leadership education to their staff. Human Resource Manager, Mr. Jeff Leach, spoke to the impact of the training funds, "The funds were able to help bring some of our long-term employees to the next level of management and set them up for success. It provided them with the necessary tools, such as communication, delegation, and problem-solving strategies, empowering them to lead others. This, in turn, enabled them to successfully implement and train new staff following our company's recent growth, particularly through the recent acquisition of Werner Paddle. As a result, many of them experienced wage growth. We are incredibly grateful to the IWT grant for helping with this training."

In partnership with Workforce Connections and their Incumbent Worker Training funds, Jackson Kayak provided new training opportunities for their staff and supported the successful acquisition of Werner Paddle.