Bluegrass Community and Technical College receives two grants to support workforce development; immigrant families

Bluegrass Community and Technical College has recently received grant funding from two sources to help advance workforce development in general and for resettled immigrant families specifically. Bank of America provides the college with $50,000 to support workforce development and fully cover the tuition for select individuals pursuing Construction Technology (Carpentry), Computer User Support Specialists, Commercial Truck Driving (CDL-A), Welder Helper General, Nurse Aide, Phlebotomy Technician, and Wastewater Processing Attendant training programs. The Truist Foundation grant provides the college with $30,000 to support the “New Roots, New Careers: Empowering Resettled Families” initiative, which seeks to provide English as a Second Language and tutoring to immigrant families seeking new careers.

According to an article on Bluegrass Community and Technical College’s website that covers the Bank of America grant, John Gardner, who serves as the president of Bank of America Kentucky, was quoted as saying, “Our investments and hands-on involvement in workforce development support both our region’s employers who need skilled workers and the next generation of talent. By building career pathways with BCTC and local nonprofits, we can help drive financial prosperity and economic growth for Lexington and the nation.”

The $50,000 grant is designed to help remove financial barriers for individuals seeking to enter into in-demand and high-paying careers. Individuals who are unemployed, homeless, justice-involved, low-income, or otherwise underserved will be referred from community organizations like Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, the Hope Center of Lexington, and Jubilee Jobs of Lexington, to receive covered tuition, fees, books, supplies, and required materials for select training programs.

These programs include Construction Technology (Carpentry), Computer User Support Specialists, Commercial Truck Driving (CDL-A), Welder Helper General, Nurse Aide, Phlebotomy Technician, and Wastewater Processing Attendant, among others. 

BCTC Foundation Executive Director Dr. Erin Tipton said, “Bank of America’s investment will transform lives across Central Kentucky by supporting individuals who need these opportunities the most but can afford them the least.”

Dr. Greg Feeney, who serves as the Chancellor of Bluegrass Community and Technical College, added, “This generous support from Bank of America allows us to remove one of the biggest barriers to education—cost—while directly connecting our students to meaningful, high-demand careers. Through this partnership, we are not only changing individual lives but also strengthening the workforce and economic vitality of Central Kentucky.”

In a separate article on Bluegrass Community and Technical College’s website that discusses the Truist Foundation grant, Erin Howard, who is the Associate Dean for Global Learning and the Principal Investigator for the grant, was quoted as saying, “Access to education is one of the most powerful tools for economic mobility. Through New Roots, New Careers, we will help participants strengthen the language skills and confidence needed to navigate educational and workforce pathways in the United States. By building on the education, career experience, and skills participants already possess, we can help them apply those strengths in our community and access higher-wage employment opportunities. We are grateful to the Truist Foundation for investing in the potential of these individuals and helping create opportunities that will have a lasting impact on families throughout our community.”

The $30,000 grant will support the “New Roots, New Careers: Empowering Resettled Families” initiative, which seeks to support immigrant families as they pursue economic mobility. As part of the grant project, 30 immigrant families who have been in the United States for more than five years but are underemployed will be given English as a Second Language (ESL) education and specialized tutoring services. 

The initiative seeks to provide support to families via English proficiency, improved communication skills, and resource access that will help them pursue credentials and education that can advance their careers and their families. 

Dr. Feeney said, “This grant reflects our commitment to access. With the support of the Truist Foundation, we can provide the educational resources and personalized support needed to help participants build successful careers, strengthen their families, and contribute to the continued growth of our region.”

For more information about Bluegrass Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.