Governor Andy Beshear attends ribbon cutting at Bluegrass Community and Technical College

The opening of the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) expands the capacity of the Advanced Manufacturing Technician and Electrical and Industrial Maintenance programs, increasing the number of students who can graduate every year from 38 to 76. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear visited the new facility at the recent ribbon cutting ceremony and spoke about the economic growth provided by workforce education programs, according to a news release from the college.

The 13,780 square foot building features open-concept lab space for hands-on instruction surrounded by classrooms and meeting spaces, intended to graduate highly-skilled workers. BCTC President Dr. Koffi Akakpo spoke at the ribbon cutting and said, "Today we celebrate state and local officials coming together with the community to serve students. This state-of-the-art facility provides real-world training and education to prepare men and women for the manufacturing industry across Central Kentucky, building better lives for individuals and communities."

Governor Beshear emphasized the economic impact of high-tech training on the state economy: "The BCTC Danville Advanced Manufacturing Center will provide new opportunities for our students and will create a pipeline of talented professionals for our partners in the advanced manufacturing industry, as we continue building a world-class education system across the commonwealth. When companies look to invest, they look at education and workforce training as a top priority. With this facility and our booming economy, it's clear that in Kentucky, we deliver."

The $2,736,000 grant to build the Advanced Manufacturing Center at BCTC was awarded in 2016 as one of 25 Kentucky Work Ready Skills Initiative grants, with other funding coming from the college's budget and community donations. Dr. Paul Czarapata, president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College system, was also in attendance, saying, "I'm proud to celebrate with BCTC today and recognize faculty and staff for their commitment to educating our future workforce, especially through the pandemic."