Kansas City Kansas Community College Aligns Workforce Training with Business Needs

This article originally appeared on and was written for Wyandotte Economic Development Council by Golden Shovel Agency.

The Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) has developed a workforce development model that addresses business demand at the speed of industry change. Through direct collaboration with companies, KCKCC designs training programs that match real-time skill gaps, eliminating the lag between hiring needs and talent availability.

A central feature of this approach is the Earn and Learn model. Companies hire program participants as employees from the start, placing them on payroll while they complete training. Students secure a steady income and real-world experience, while employers benefit from talent that is prepared to contribute immediately with the necessary skills to succeed.

Industry-Driven Program Design

KCKCC is in regular communication with the Wyandotte County business community. The school does not develop programs in isolation. Often, faculty and administrators work with company executives, HR leaders, and technical managers of local businesses to define precisely what skills are required for success on the job. These include not-so-common technical skills, workplace-specific processes, and safety standards.

“At the Wyandotte Economic Development Council (WYEDC), we see KCKCC as an indispensable partner in helping our community grow,” said Greg Kindle, President of WYEDC. “Their workforce programs are aligned to meet industry needs, built with direct input from employers who need talent today. Together, WYEDC and KCKCC create pathways that keep businesses competitive while ensuring residents have access to careers with real upward mobility. That collaboration is one of the greatest strengths of our community.”

Programs are built to match the operational realities of employers in advanced manufacturing, IT, cybersecurity, and other high-demand sectors. By aligning training directly with the competencies businesses require, KCKCC graduates enter the workforce fully prepared for the roles they are hired to fill.

Agile Curriculum Development

One of the biggest considerations for new business attraction and expansion site selectors is “Does the community have the workforce to support a company’s operations and growth targets?” For areas like Wyandotte County, speed to market is critical in workforce training.

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