Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) salutes the latest class of The Eastern Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI), who graduated on Friday, January 24th, in Paintsville, KY. Twenty of EKCEP’s WIOA clients have completed a rigorous five-month training program, positioning them for high-paying careers in advanced manufacturing and robotics.
Thanks to EKCEP, in partnership with the Kentucky Career Center at Big Sandy Area Community Action Program, these students collectively received $140,000 in tuition coverage plus an additional $24,000 in supportive services like funds for transportation and other resources to help students overcome potential barriers to participation. With EKCEP’s financial assistance in place, the students could fully concentrate on hands-on training with advanced HAAS CNC (Computer Numeric Control) equipment, learning how to program, set up, and operate machinery vital to industries like aerospace and automotive.
eKAMI’s curriculum includes technical training in computer skills, CNC Machining, and Robotics, as well as interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution. The program also teaches personal financial management, self-awareness, and professionalism to produce well-rounded graduates who are prepared for the workplace and beyond.
In an exciting new development, eKAMI, in collaboration with Universal Robots, NIMS, and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, awarded the graduates with the nation’s first-ever “Robotic Operator” credential, a nationally recognized certification that further validates their skills and expertise.
“The newly added Robotics component of this program makes this a historic moment for our graduates and the advanced manufacturing industry in Eastern Kentucky,” said Becky Carnes-Miller, EKCEP’s Executive Director. “EKCEP is proud to support initiatives like eKAMI that empower individuals and create a skilled workforce for the future.”
With a 100% job placement rate and an average starting salary of $65,000, eKAMI graduates are in high demand. During the graduation ceremony, each graduate spoke of the program’s effectiveness in preparing them with the technical and personal skills needed and that they have already been offered jobs that will better support them and their families.
Graduate Kimberly Mills said she chose this program because her husband had gone through it two years prior. Seeing his success, it was clear that this would be the easiest and fastest path to a rewarding career for her as well.
“I’m really confident that wherever I decide I want to go, with these credentials and certificates, I will be leaps and bounds above any other applicant,” Mills said.
Jeff Hensley, Workforce Services Director at Big Sandy Area Community Action Program, expressed his enthusiasm for the program’s continued success, stating, “The Kentucky Career Center at Big Sandy Community Action Program is proud to partner with EKCEP in providing essential financial and supportive services to these deserving students. This investment in our local workforce not only strengthens our community but also establishes Eastern Kentucky as a leader in advanced manufacturing.” Hensley emphasized the Center’s commitment to ongoing support, adding that “Our work with these students continues beyond graduation, as the Kentucky Career Center remains dedicated to providing post-graduation assistance to ensure their success.”
EKCEP extends their congratulations and best wishes to these groundbreaking students as they begin their new careers. They encourage anyone interested in a career in advanced manufacturing to seek out the resources and support available here in Eastern Kentucky by stopping by their local Kentucky Career Center.
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. The agency provides an array of workforce development services and operates a network of Kentucky Career Centers, which provide access to more than a dozen state and federal programs that offer employment and training assistance for jobseekers and employers all under one roof. Learn more about us at ekcep.org.