The Kentucky Power Economic Growth Grant will allow the college to develop a workforce training program to benefit both local residents and local employers.
Big Sandy Community and Technical College has received a Kentucky Power Economic Growth Grant that will help develop a specialized workforce training program in welding that will benefit individuals and local employers. The funding will support the purchase of new equipment and help create a pipeline for qualified individuals to find employment with local employers.
According to an article on Big Sandy Community and Technical College’s website, Dr. Samuel Todd Brand, the college’s president, is quoted as saying of the partnership, “This partnership with Kentucky Power reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Eastern Kentucky’s workforce. By investing in advanced training equipment and programs like Regulated Metal Deposition, we are ensuring our students gain the skills local employers need right now. These skills lead to quality jobs and long-term economic growth for our region.”
The grant funding will support the college’s purchase of Regulated Metal Deposition (RMD) equipment, which will allow the college’s Workforce Solutions to offer a specialized workforce development program that directly prepares individuals to gain the skills they need to fill needed positions with local employers. Local 248 and Infinity Design and Construction Group are two such local employers in need of employees with these specialized skills. Elliot Taulbee of Infinity Design and Construction Group noted that he is currently working on a long list of projects that he could use skilled workers for, including fabrication, distilleries, data centers, wastewater treatment plants, industrial plants, water towers, plumbing and HVAC plan and specification work, automotive plants, and food and beverage facilities.
Joyce Wilcox, who serves as the director of workforce solutions at BSCTC, noted, “RMD training is a great opportunity for individuals in the Big Sandy region because it delivers specialized, in-demand skills that lead to high-paying careers while meeting the needs of local employers.”
Amanda Clark, the economic and business development manager of Kentucky Power, said, “Kentucky Power is proud to support Big Sandy Community and Technical College’s welding program through the Kentucky Power Economic Growth Grant. By investing in workforce training, we are helping develop a skilled workforce that supports local employers, strengthens the regional economy, and creates long-term opportunities for our communities.”
For more information about Big Sandy Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.