LAWRENCE CO. – The Lawrence County Commissioners have approved a $15,000 allocation from the county’s 2025 opioid settlement funds to support workforce training efforts led by the Lawrence County Growth Council.
The funding will help support programs designed to prepare residents in Lawrence County for in-demand careers and expand opportunities for workforce development across the region.
One initiative overseen by the Growth Council is the Local Jobs and Skills Program (ILJAS). The program introduces participants to high-demand careers while helping them earn industry-recognized certifications valued by employers.
During the three-week training course, participants receive hands-on experience in fields such as welding, machining, or construction. The program also includes safety-focused instruction to ensure participants gain skills that meet workplace standards.
According to the Growth Council, its mission is to increase the number of qualified workers available to fill open jobs by aligning workforce needs with education and training opportunities.
The organization has outlined several goals aimed at strengthening the local workforce, including preparing students for careers while still in high school, increasing postsecondary education attainment, and expanding adult education, job training, and certification programs.
To achieve those goals, the Growth Council is focusing on strategies such as expanding the use of the North Lawrence Career Center for both youth and adults, increasing internship and apprenticeship opportunities in the region, and improving job skills among unemployed and underemployed residents.
Officials say the initiative also includes outreach efforts to justice-involved individuals to help connect them with training and employment opportunities.
County leaders say investing opioid settlement funds into workforce training and education can help address long-term economic challenges while creating pathways to stable employment for residents.
