The grant was awarded to the college by the Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is establishing a new Aviation Maintenance Technology program that is set to begin in August 2024 thanks to receiving a grant from the Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization. PACRO has awarded grants to three separate institutions in the past year that were creating new academic programs, including Murray State University and University of Kentucky College of Engineering.
According to a press release on West Kentucky Community and Technical College’s website, a ceremony was held for the presentation of the grant check from Eddie Jones and Greg Wiles of PACRO to WKCTC’s president Dr. Anton Reece. During the ceremony, Dr. Reece expressed his gratitude to PACRO for the assistance that will allow the school to begin its Aviation Maintenance Technology program, saying, "I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to PACRO for their belief in our vision and for recognizing the potential impact of this initiative on the needs of local businesses, our community and its surrounding areas."
The Aviation Maintenance Technology program is being implemented with the need for aviation maintenance technicians on the rise. During his remarks at the ceremony, Dr. Reece said, "With projections indicating a need for 739,000 new aviation mechanics worldwide over the next 20 years, and Kentucky ranking second nationally in aerospace-related exports, our program will not only meet this demand but also contribute to the economic growth of our region."
Wiles, who is the executive director of PACRO, said, "We are confident the grant funding will help create new employment opportunities and provide the necessary education to meet the increasing Aviation Maintenance Technology demands in our region."
In addition to the funding from PACRO, Dr. Reece mentioned that lawmakers were instrumental in securing the means for the Aviation Maintenance Technology program to come to fruition. He noted, "Our state lawmakers and regional officials have emphasized the importance and urgency of establishing the WKCTC Aviation Maintenance Technology program that aims to address the critical shortage of aviation mechanics nationally and within our state."
Jones, who is a Board Chair at PACRO, said that the timing for three area institutions to need funding from PACRO to establish new programs was a happy coincidence. He said, "I just thought it was perfect timing that all three of the institutions that served PACRO have started a new program in the last year. I am so glad this worked out because this is the perfect fit for PACRO money. This is a mission of what we were supposed to do in the community - new jobs, new careers."
Bruce Glasco, an Army veteran, will serve as the program coordinator for the Aviation Maintenance Technology program. He is looking forward to the impact the program will have, saying, "The new AMT program will become a huge success for WKCTC and the community. The future AMT graduates will represent the area well."
For more information about West Kentucky Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.