Elizabethtown Community and Technical College breaks ground on new BlueOval SK Battery Park
The BlueOval SK Battery Park facility will be used to train around 5,000 employees in building electric vehicle batteries with the help of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College.
Officials from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College welcomed Governor Andy Beshear to the official groundbreaking of the ECTC BlueOval SK Training Center in Glendale. Officials from Ford Motor Co. and BlueOval SK were in attendance, as well, and the steel framing of the facility has already been completed. The building is planned to be 42,000 square feet.
The BlueOval SK Battery Park is a completely new battery manufacturing campus that will create batteries for Ford and Lincoln vehicles starting in 2023. The park sits on a 1,500 acre plot of land. The BlueOval SK Battery Park will employ around 5,000 people who will be trained for these positions at the ECTC BlueOval SK Training Center, which is now under construction.
In an article from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s website, Governor Beshear was quoted on his support of these sorts of investments in Kentucky’s community, saying, “World-class companies are betting their futures on Kentucky because of our world-class workforce. This training center will help make sure BlueOval SK has the skilled employees it needs to begin production on day one. The cutting-edge facility will provide incredible opportunities for our people as Kentucky establishes itself as the electric vehicle battery capital of the United States.”
The General Assembly allocated $25 million for this project in Senate Bill 5 during a special session back in September 2021; it was signed by the Governor. The construction of the training facility began just this past February, and is expected to be completed next spring.
Governor Beshear thanked the teams from BlueOval SK and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College for their teamwork on the center, which will be the only co-branded learning facility in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
The president and CEO of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Dr. Juston Pate, also weighed in, saying, “Today is an important day in the history of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College and our community, of which BlueOval SK is now a part. The official groundbreaking of the ECTC BlueOval SK Training Center is a testament to the incredible dedication of leaders – in Elizabethtown, Hardin County and across our commonwealth – when it comes to partnering and working hand-in-hand to create new opportunities for individuals.”
The training facility will largely be used to provide students with battery knowledge, roles, and skills. BlueOval SK will train their employees on their proprietary manufacturing, quality, and technical processes in the ECTC BlueOVal SK Training Center’s ergonomics techniques classrooms, work simulation lab, industrial maintenance lab, and virtual reality labs.
Companies in the electric vehicle industry have announced over $10 billion in investment money since June 2020, which is expected to create nearly 10,000 full time jobs.
SK On, Ford, and Governor Beshear announced the biggest economic development project in the history of Kentucky back in September 2021. Two electric vehicle battery plants were planned to be built in Glendale thanks to a $5.8 billion investment.
SK On and Ford officially broke ground last September at BlueOval Sk Battery Park where the joint partnership will create advanced batteries for future Lincoln- and Ford-made electric vehicles at two large battery manufacturing facilities capable of producing 80 gigawatt hours every year.
Ford’s global director of workforce development Liliana Ramirez spoke about the investments, saying, “Ford and SK On are bringing thousands of new, high-quality jobs to the Bluegrass State. The custom-designed ECTC BlueOval SK Training Center will house the technical and advanced manufacturing education for these new roles, as well as provide hands-on experience needed to build the future – a bright future for the workforce of Kentucky in careers building batteries for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles.”
Ryan Wheeler, BlueOval SK Kentucky #2 Plant Manager and native of Hardin County, talked about his childhood growing up and playing on the property where the facility is now being built, and his excitement to return to his hometown after leaving to play for the New York Yankees before finally joining Ford Motor Co.
“The new ECTC BlueOval SK Training Center is critical for preparing employees to work at BlueOval SK. We’re thrilled the facility is so close to the battery park and Central Kentucky residents don’t have to leave the area to get the training they need to have a successful career at BlueOval SK,” he said.
Director of external affairs at BlueOval SK Ursula Madden talked about the partnership between BlueOval SK and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, saying, “ECTC is an essential component to the success of BlueOval SK. The technical training our employees receive will equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to build EV batteries for future Ford and Lincoln brands.”
Jeff Gregory, the mayor of Elizabethtown, also chimed in, saying, “We find ourselves in one of the most ‘electric’ regions of the country because of tremendous partnerships, collaboration and the willingness of both public and private to invest in the future. I’m extremely proud of our local leadership at ECTC and their ability to provide curriculum and training to support this exciting BOSK joint venture. This beautiful training center will lead the way for others to follow and will help create a unique workforce to support this unprecedented electric vehicle battery facility.”
The president and CEO of Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation spoke highly of the partnership, as well, saying, “There are no words to express how it feels to stand here today, with our incredible partner ECTC, on the site we have nurtured for 20-plus years, and know that very soon 5,000 people will have started phenomenal careers right here in Hardin County with BlueOval SK. This has been a true collaboration and shared vision of partners at the local, regional and state levels.”
More information about Elizabethtown Community and Technical College can be found at the school’s website.