College Overviews

FY 22 Highlights

Healthcare is the largest industry sector in the FIVCO area. Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) Workforce Solutions has partnered with most long-term care facilities in Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence, and Elliott counties to provide Nurse Aide and Kentucky Medication Aide training. Long-term care facilities are facing a very high turnover rate. This partnership has provided a continuous training pipeline to help fill open positions. As a result of this partnership, in FY 22, ACTC Workforce Solutions has trained over 270 nurse aides and 8 Kentucky Medication Aides for these area facilities. Combined with this partnership and open enrollment classes, over 400 nurse aides have been trained in FY 22.

As the shortage of Commercial Truck Drivers increases, ACTC’s Commercial Driver’s License program continues to grow. In FY 22, ACTC trained over 115 licensed drivers, an increase from 88 last year, with over 90% employed following the training. In answer to the demand for more drivers, capacity for the training was increased by starting a new class every two weeks instead of every four weeks. Several companies have developed partnerships with ACTC, such as Hudson Giant Tire, Superior Environmental Services, American Electric Power, Foothills Communication, and Dependable Rolloff. In addition to driver training, as of February 2022, Hazmat Endorsement Classes are now offered.

FY 22 Highlights

Appalachian Tank, a Canadian company that produces aluminum tank trucks, partnered with Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) Workforce Solutions to onboard and train up to 50 individuals for their workforce operations in Pikeville. Thus far, twenty-plus individuals have been offered full-time employment. This collaboration was featured in the Lane Report, highlighting that the company had hired its first group of full-time manufacturing personnel, all of whom were trained through a partnership with BSCTC. Appalachian Tank developed a program with BSCTC to train students to be aluminum welders, providing them with the skills needed for a welding career and supplying Appalachian Tank with qualified manufacturing personnel. The initial 10-week training program has produced 10 new employees for the company, with four more sessions planned.

BSCTC’s Apprenticeship Program office has been successful this year in establishing two of its most impactful programs. First, the agreement with Insights Training Group, LLC in Prestonsburg, is a partnership designed to establish an ongoing and sustainable apprenticeship program for Residential Advisors (RAs) in both of their Kentucky Job Corps Centers, and an additional program for the Job Corps Center located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Six new apprentices have been enrolled into the Client Services Coordinator certificate program for Fall 2022, and it is fully anticipated that this program will expand to the other two centers for Spring 2023. The Apprenticeship Program office has also been successful in establishing the Recovery Coach / Peer Support Specialist Certification program for the Summer 2022 session, with five new students enrolled. BSCTC, EKCEP, and the Floyd County Drug Court maintain ongoing collaborative efforts to recruit new students for future expansion of the Peer Specialist Program.

FY 22 Highlights

Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC), in partnership with Commerce Lexington and the Lexington Healthcare Collaborative made up of Baptist Health, CHI St. Joseph, and UK Healthcare, are developing a State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) training program to train 30 individuals wishing to pivot to the healthcare industry. The SRNA program started in partnership with Commerce Lexington which reached out to Bluegrass to have their workforce practitioners assist with an identified talent pipeline need for SRNAs. This position provides an entry-point into healthcare and offers upward mobility for individuals embarking on a new career pathway. BCTC is proud to provide leadership support to this collaborative of employers working together to expand the healthcare talent pipelines.

BCTC is excited to have launched an English Language Learner (ELL) training program to assist 48 nonnative, English speaking employees at Galls, Incorporated to improve their workplace communication and confidence. The ELL programming began from a Lexington Economic Partnership (LEP) connection through Commerce Lexington. Gall’s saw BCTC Workforce Solutions present about services they offer during an LEP meeting and contacted BCTC to help them with their employees who needed ELL services. Through this partnership with Galls, BCTC is experiencing a significant increase in demand to provide ELL training to employees at many companies in the BCTC service region.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) Workforce Solutions has developed a new pathway for students actively engaged in addiction recovery in collaboration with recovery facilities such as Addiction Recovery Care ARC, Pinnacle Treatment Centers, Recovery Works, and Isaiah House. Students earn academic credentials and gain real-world work experience while continuing to work toward overcoming substance addiction. Program participants take classes that lead to a college certificate, the first milestone to earning an associate degree. Each career pathway is matched with an on-the-job experience with companies such as Toyotomi America Corporation and Summit Polymers to provide the work experience. Several employers in the region have already expressed interest in hiring program participants. Through this program ECTC provides hope for individuals to live vibrant sober lives with career opportunities, educational attainment, and community support systems, while at the same time addressing the workforce shortage and addiction epidemic.

ECTC Workforce Solutions is a collaborative partner to support the historic BlueOvalSk investment in the Lincoln Trail region. ECTC also created customized training for Kruger Packaging to suit their specific workforce requirements. Pre-employment assessments, onboarding assistance, registered apprenticeship, enhanced operator certification, and technical and safety training were supported through KCTCS’ TRAINS funding. Over 40 employees earned 6 hours of college credit and the Enhanced Operator I Certificate with the opportunity to complete a journey worker apprenticeship. ECTC has a strong relationship with local and state economic development entities, allowing them to support workforce incentive allocations for Heaven Hill Distillery and Nucor Steel in addition to Kruger Packaging and BlueOvalSK. The college is positioned as a critical partner in major economic development investments in their region.

The LIFT the TriState program is a partnership between Gateway Community and Technical College (GCTC), the Freestore Foodbank, and Belflex Staffing Network that offers an opportunity for unemployed and underemployed adults to become trained in the growing field of logistics while providing essential job skills. This ten-week job training program based in Northern Kentucky supplies hands-on training from experienced warehouse personnel at the Freestore Foodbank, specialized logistics coursework designed and delivered by GCTC, and links participants to local employment through BelFlex Staffing Network and other program partners. Additionally, students tour local distribution and logistics companies to gain exposure to careers in the field. This program is free to participants who meet eligibility requirements. Additional costs covered for participants include transportation, clothing, and daily lunch. Since the launch of this partnership program, 195 trainees have graduated.

Gateway is proud to partner with Brighton Center on Trades to Success, a 3-week pre-apprenticeship program created to help individuals find a trade career they love. Participants explore trade and apprenticeship careers as well as job training and post-secondary education opportunities. Careers and industries included in this exploration are electrician, line worker, construction, commercial driver’s license, supply chain and logistics, and many more. To date, 43 students have completed with 74% currently employed in trades or enrolled in training or apprenticeship.

FY 22 Highlights

TLD Logistics, a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho, has opened a facility in Manchester, Kentucky and are actively recruiting for many open positions throughout their organization for CDL drivers. Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC ) Workforce Solutions is proud to partner with TLD to refer potential CDL students to their organization for consideration to hire – both a win for students and the employer. If an individual applies for employment with TLD prior to HCTC’s CDL program and is hired, TLD may pick up the cost of full tuition for the student. SOAR also partnered with HCTC and TLD to co-host a summer job fair for career seekers looking to join the supply chain management industry. Over 30 candidates were screened and interviewed on-site for positions at TLD, with the opportunity to not only be hired, but also sponsored by the company for HCTC’s CDL training program.

Helping to address Kentucky’s critical healthcare workforce shortage, HCTC Workforce Solutions is partnering with Big Sandy and Southeast to assist Appalachian Regional Healthcare in upskilling their incumbent workforce. Their program, WAVE (Working While Advancing Vocational and Educationally), is the backbone of this initiative with nurse aide training being offered to employees across all the ARH hospitals. Due to these efforts, the three partnering colleges are able to deliver training across a geographic footprint large enough to meet the needs of ARH’s multiple locations, with nurse aid training available through many of our regional college campuses.

FY 22 Highlights

In FY22, Henderson Community College (HCC) Workforce Solutions set a strategic goal to reengage local businesses that did not have any recent active partnerships with the college. As a result of this deliberate effort to expand their business portfolio, HCC delivered 10 KCTCS-TRAINS projects representing a 233% increase over the previous fiscal year. 80% of approved projects were with companies last served over three years ago such as Audubon Metals, an example of a reignited business relationship. This year, Audubon Metals and HCC began a multi-year technical training project for their maintenance technicians. This company has shared very positive feedback on the quality of their training, and noted that they were able to increase the number of technicians trained because of KCTCS’ funding opportunity, TRAINS.

Henderson also leveraged strategic partnerships with area high schools to recruit HCC FAME’s largest cohort in its history, increasing sponsor company participation by 60% and increasing the number of incoming HCC FAME technicians by 70% over the previous fiscal year. FAME is an apprenticeship-style work and learn program to train advanced manufacturing technicians, with students receiving paychecks, regular success coaching and employer mentorship. HCC’s FAME students are enrolled in the Industrial Maintenance Technology AAS-Advanced Manufacturing Technician Track academic plan, while also being employed with a sponsor. The Henderson chapter of the nationally recognized FAME-USA Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) Program has produced top tier industrial maintenance technicians since 2019.

FY 22 Highlights

Enrollment in Hopkinsville Community College’s (HCC) accelerated welding program grew by 92.5% from 80 enrollments in FY21 to 154 in FY22, supported in part by a new partnership with Operation Next and approval as a Career Skills Program (CSP) at Fort Campbell. Underwritten by a Department of Defense-funded research and development institute, Operation Next is an innovative training and credentialing program for soldiers during their last six months of service but while still on active duty. More than 85% of the students in HCC’s accelerated welding program are active-duty soldiers, dependents or veterans. Students who complete all three welding program sessions earn five academic certificates and American Welding Society certifications in stick, MIG and TIG welding processes.

HCC provided Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training to 89 students during FY22 and has prepared 844 individuals to earn their CDL’s since January 2013. HCC’s four-week CDL class is one of 15 Career Skills Programs (CSPs) approved by the US Army to provide skills training to improve civilian employment options for soldiers during the six months before they complete their military careers and is an approved Credentialing Assistance training course through the Department of Defense Skill Bridge. Approximately 85% of each class are active-duty soldiers, soldiers transitioning out of the military, veterans, and military spouses and dependents. HCC used American Rescue Plan (ARP) Institutional funds to expand its training fleet with two new trucks and trailers, allowing HCC to minimize the number of students in each truck and adding an automatic transmission truck to enhance the student training experience.

FY 22 Highlights

Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) developed 27 new partnerships and training projects with organizations that were new to their portfolio. The partnerships cover a variety of occupations and industry sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, construction, and community partners. Training projects expanded the college’s enrollment in many technical programs, including the following areas: welding, automotive technology, computerized manufacturing and machining, HVAC, plumbing, CDL, utility technician, industrial maintenance, culinary, nursing, and allied health. Even with ongoing pandemic related impacts, JCTC produced the highest profit on record, giving back $1,156,953 to the college’s bottom line.

Workforce Solutions partnered with Kentuckiana Works to pilot two Trades Exploration cohorts for young adults. In collaboration with Kentuckiana Works and Goodwill, disconnected youth ages 18-24 is the targeted population. Participants spend 32 hours in the classroom engaged in hands-on activities learning more about potential career pathways. This program represents a new and innovative approach to growing enrollment and exposing individuals to eight high-wage and high-demand occupations, offering participants a start to a successful career. Pathways included welding, plumbing HVAC, CMM, IT, culinary, healthcare, and automotive technology. Participants were offered a free academic advising session, and some have enrolled in a full time college program. JCTC has received great feedback from the students, faculty, and the Goodwill student mentor, with Goodwill and KentuckianaWorks applying for additional funding to run more cohorts.

FY 22 Highlights

Madisonville Community College (MCC) has successfully moved the Line Technician Program from the MCC Tech Campus to the New Webster Co Training Center. This move will enable MCC to increase the class size from 16 to 30. Yearly graduates will increase from 48 to approximately 90 with this expansion. In addition to the expansion of the Line Technician class at the Webster Co Training Center, MCC will also expand its CDL Program by adding additional CDL classes at the new training site. This new class site will also increase the number of graduates in the MCC CDL program. MCC will be offering the first new Diesel Mechanic Program classes this Fall ’22, also housed in the Webster Co Training Center. The program will be funded for the first 3 years with a successful Department of Labor grant awarded in October ’22.

Madisonville Community College has been conducting Summer Youth College since 1992, but FY 22 was an extremely successful year, offering the first full blown Summer Youth College camp for kids since the COVID shutdowns. The intent is for students to experience fun and educational classes while visiting a college campus and experiencing some elements of a real college. The camp enrolled 105 kids in July from age 6 through 12 and nine different subjects were taught. Students spend four days in three classes of their choosing, emulating the college experience. Some of the most popular classes this year were Baking 101, Coding Creations, Elements, Gross! Science, and Painting Selfies. Partnerships with area public schools help with marketing distribution and some instructor recruitment, as well as distribution of scholarships for low-income students in need.

FY 22 Highlights

Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) Workforce Solutions has assisted in bringing an Aviation Mechanic program to the college which will begin in 2023. The Aviation Maintenance program came about through a TRAINS application for partial funding for the new program. Several meetings with MCTC staff, employers, and community members were held to ensure the need to provide the Aviation Maintenance program. MCTC Academic faculty and staff have worked closely with the Fleming Mason Airport Board to develop the Aviation Mechanic program and fulfill the need that has grown not only in the Maysville area, but also in the greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area with UPS, Amazon, DHL having a major presence in the region. The rapid response design of the program demonstrates MCTC’s commitment to meet labor market needs.

MCTC has partnered with Stober, a provider of automation solutions, to develop Registered Apprenticeship programming to create a pipeline of talent to feed their demand for computerized machining and industrial maintenance technicians. Stober has grown immensely in terms of workforce and revenue, and apprenticeship has been a successful strategy for attracting the talent needed to grow the company. Since 2005, 50 apprentices have participated, 33 have earned an associate degree, and 18 have earned a bachelor’s degree. 60% of apprentices are still employed with Stober today and 12 serve in leadership roles.

FY 22 Highlights

Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) Workforce Solutions division managed three active National Science Foundation grant innovation projects, totaling $1.6 million, during the 2021-22 fiscal year. The Advancing Female Incumbent Workers in the Manufacturing Industry project concluded June 30, 2022, after exceeding all project goals. The Strengthening the Industry 4.0 Workforce through Virtual Reality Training project launched October 1, 2021, to develop a virtual reality training application to train multi-skilled technicians for the manufacturing industry. The Reskilling Manufacturing Technicians Post-COVID with an Industry 4.0 Competency-Based Solution project launched May 1, 2022, to design competency-based education solutions to train the current and future workforce. These grants have allowed OCTC to respond to critical workforce needs in their service area with cutting-edge approaches to offer rapid upskilling opportunities.

An educational partnership between OCTC and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1701 offers apprentices the opportunity to earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Electrical Technology, and in return, electrical contractors have skilled journey workers who will likely fill supervisory roles in the future. The IBEW 1701, through its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, worked closely with OCTC’s Workforce Solutions division to develop and launch a specific pathway comprised of five years of general and technical studies, as well as on-the-job training. IBEW established an apprenticeship to secure a pipeline of skilled workers and since the launch of this Registered Apprenticeship program, 47 apprentices have completed the program and earned degrees. Currently, there are 31 apprentices active in the program with a new cohort of 22 apprentices beginning in Fall 2022. Because the community depends on essential skilled trade services such as electricity, IBEW’s investment in their workforce has single-handedly contributed to sustained electrical services for local businesses and its residents.

FY 22 Highlights

Somerset Community College (SCC) partnered with ElectriCom, Vermeer MidWest, the Power and Communications Contractors Association (PCCA), National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), and Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) to create the new Utility Technician Apprenticeship Program (UTAP). The first student cohort started in the fall of 2021 and successfully completed their related technical instruction in July 2022. Work is progressing to create two new certificate programs, Underground Utility Technology Program and Aboveground Utility Technology Program. The Registered Apprenticeship program is aiding in building utility infrastructure to improve quality of life in Somerset’s communities. Innovative utility partnerships help to make Somerset’s underground and overhead infrastructure stronger and safer –improving worker and public safety.

Somerset Community College partnered with the Pulaski County Detention Center, Cumberlands Workforce Board, Goodwill, and SPEDA to offer the college’s first inmate re-entry training program. To date, three 8-week welding cohorts (2 male and 1 female cohorts) have been completed, with 19 inmates receiving the Welder Helper Credential. Currently, 10 of these inmates are working with Hendrickson while incarcerated through a Work Release Program with the Kentucky Department of Corrections. Additionally, 2 Forklift Certification Classes have been held with the Laurel County Detention Center inmates, and more classes are being planned with both facilities. This program offers an opportunity for individuals who have been involved with the justice system to re-enter their communities with an indemand credential and job opportunity, reducing recidivism in the Commonwealth.

FY 22 Highlights

The Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) Workforce Solutions customized training team has been heavily integrated in economic development projects that have resulted in significant announcements for the region. The team has hosted SKYCTC visits for companies including the two largest announced projects creating over 2,500 jobs. SKYCTC maintains ongoing scheduled communication with the companies’ teams in support of local project development and training needs. The team also secured an agreement to provide SKYCTC’s Workforce Solutions Frontline Leadership Academy to one of the region’s largest employers, providing training to both the company’s restaurant and retail district employees, and store-level general and assistant managers. Training has recently been completed with the first group of 80 management-level employees. SKYCTC is proud to support these opportunities for skill development and career advancement with quality employers in the region.

In partnership with area employers, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, the Southcentral Workforce Development Board, and Warren County Public Schools, SKYCTC Workforce Solutions has developed the Heavy Equipment Operator program. Due to the shortage of heavy equipment operators and the advancing technology, heavy equipment operation is an in-demand field that has become a financially rewarding career with expansive opportunities. Graduates can utilize their training to become a backhoe operator, excavator operator, loader, crane operator, grader operator, or a forklift operator – helping to meet the demand for these jobs across Kentucky, where spending on infrastructure is expected to increase. SKYCTC’s program has purchased four heavy equipment simulators through grant funding and has identified an instructor. The program will launch this fall at the Warren County Area Technology Center with an anticipated enrollment of 30 new students.

FY 22 Highlights

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) partnered with Chu-Con, Inc. to deliver customized training in Electrical, CPR & First Aid, and Safety & Universal Precautions to 87 of their employees. This training was funded through KCTCS TRAINS. A preparatory class for the state licensing exam was also delivered to some employees. As a result of this training, several employees enrolled in the Electrical Technology Program with one employee receiving his Associate Degree after completing this training.

SKCTC is proud to partner with the Appalachian Challenge Academy to deliver short term certifications to their cadets. The Academy’s mission is to positively impact the lives of at-risk youth, equipping them with the tools and skills needed for success and upon graduation. Over the past year, training was delivered to 122 cadets in fiber optics, CPR, and OSHA. Certifications were given from the Fiber Optics Association (FOA), American Heart Association, and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). This partnership allows students to earn three industry-recognized certifications to start their career paths and build a better life.

FY 22 Highlights

West Kentucky Community and Technical College’s (WKCTC) Workforce Solutions department continues to see a critical need for leadership development across many business sectors. This need was recognized by companies planning for future retirements, transfers, and general workforce attrition. By partnering with Baptist Health Paducah, WKCTC was able to provide leadership development and team awareness training to their staff. WKCTC has completed the 6th cohort as Baptist continues to implement this program throughout the hospital. This success has been duplicated across varying industry sectors to include banking, manufacturing, healthcare, engineering, and consulting - with 137 trained across these industry sectors.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College’s Workforce Solutions offered a series of free training courses to help minority small business owners and new entrepreneurs excel by enhancing or building their enterprises. Funding for the training is made possible through a grant from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott, awarded to WKCTC in 2020 through the National Philanthropic Trust. The WKCTC Guarantee, a seven-sector framework for grant utilization, was created to support various community DEI efforts, such as the minority small business training series. Training sessions covering 8 topics were held every two weeks on Tuesday evenings, delivered by minority small business owners and entrepreneurs when possible. Future workshops are being planned with a minority summit coming in the fall of 2022.