NC Kentucky News

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) Workforce Solutions partnered with local companies to invest $1,277,668 in TRAINS funding for job training initiatives in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, found a new report on enrollment and workforce development. The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) released its inaugural Workforce and Economic Development Annual Report today – in connection with National Workforce Development Month – the first comprehensive synopsis of activities among KCTCS Workforce Solutions departments.

According to the report, ECTC Workforce Solutions served 30 businesses last year. Those companies committed another $628,619 to develop employees with skills that meet the needs of a 21st century workforce.

At ECTC, those initiatives included:

• Supporting the historic BlueOval SK investment in the Lincoln Trail region as a collaborative partner
• Coordinating the design, development, promotion and implementation of customized training programs for regional business and industry
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with local and state economic development entities, allowing them to support workforce incentive allocations for Heaven Hill Distillery, Nucor Steel, Kruger Packaging and BlueOval SK
• Creating a new pathway for students actively engaged in addiction recovery in collaboration with recovery facilities such as Isaiah House, Addiction Recovery Care, Pinnacle Treatment Centers and Recovery Works.

“Led by our incredible Workforce Solutions staff and faculty, ECTC is committed to partnering with local companies to ensure they have a skilled and sustainable talent pipeline not just to survive, but to thrive in an ever-changing work environment,” said ECTC Chief Community and Economic Development Officer (Workforce Solutions) Mike Hazzard. “With labor shortages at historic levels, we know this work has never been more important.”

In addition to ECTC’s many successes, the report showcased that systemwide, KCTCS Workforce Solutions completed its highest performing year ever in the Commonwealth. Overall, more than $7.1 million was allocated for customizable employee training activities in FY 2022, up from $3.9 million the year prior. Moreover, the report found that the number of TRAINS projects led by KCTCS Workforce Solutions ballooned from 117 to 240 in the last fiscal year, new Workforce Solutions clients grew by 147 percent during that same period, and enrollment jumped by 41 percent (up to 19,111).

Manufacturing was the top sector receiving services and funding under TRAINS overall, with $4,141,603 invested in 118 companies, and a total of 142 companies served through customized solutions. Other leading sectors included healthcare, logistics and business services.

Of note, TRAINS offsets the cost of customized training for incumbent worker upskilling, pre-employment training, assessments and apprenticeship programs. KCTCS has expanded financial assistance now offsetting 75 percent (up from 50 percent) of a business’s costs associated with developing tailored talent pipeline initiatives.

With funding established by the Kentucky General Assembly, KCTCS is proud to deliver TRAINS-backed projects to help businesses across the Commonwealth equip their current and potential employees with the tools and on-the-job experience to succeed at work and beyond.

For more information, see the full KCTCS Workforce and Economic Development Annual Report or contact ECTC Workforce Solutions at ectcworkforcesolutions@kctcs.edu or 270-706-8700; or visit elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/workforce-solutions.

Original source can be found here.