Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) is proud to announce the graduation of a cohort of Recovery & Reentry clients from a specialized Turf Management training program. The ceremony celebrated the participants’ successful completion of the Workforce Solutions Customized Employee Training program offered by Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKCTC) in partnership with KCEOC Community Action Agency’s Kentucky Career Center and EKCEP.
Hosted at the Indian Springs Country Club, the intensive, hands-on training equipped 15 participants with a comprehensive set of technical and professional skills. The curriculum covered the operation of specialized machinery and equipment, advanced irrigation techniques, the proper application of insecticides and herbicides, and best practices for grass maintenance and fertility. Crucially, the program also focused on instilling the workforce skills necessary for long-term success, directly aligning with EKCEP’s mission to provide tangible career pathways for individuals in recovery.
“This is what partnership in action looks like,” said Ethan Phipps, Assistant Director of EKCEP’s Recovery & Reentry program. “We are incredibly grateful for the collaboration with SKCTC, the Goodwill Opportunity Center, and all the individuals who have come together to make this possible. Our participants are dedicated, hardworking, and more than deserving of a second chance.”
All 15 participants, supported either through EKCEP’s Recovery & Reentry program or formula workforce funding via the Kentucky Career Center network, successfully completed the class and earned an industry-recognized credential. Fourteen participants have already secured jobs or will begin employment immediately following the end of their paid work experience.
The program’s success was echoed by the instructors on the ground. “This cohort was really good. We had some people come in that were of different backgrounds … and they learned a lot this year,” said Spencer Jones, the program instructor and superintendent of the Indian Springs Country Club. “I’m really proud of all of them … I was glad to be able to teach them how to be a part of the workforce.”
Collin Grubb, a supervisor at Indian Springs Country Club, highlighted the program’s career-focused goal. “Our goal is not just to have extra help, but to train them with practical skills so they can leave this program ready to launch successful careers in this industry,” Grubb said.
The training opened up new career possibilities for the participants, giving them both the technical knowledge and real-world experience needed to see themselves thriving in an industry they may not have previously considered. For most of them, it was their first exposure to turf management as a viable career path, and the hands-on learning environment helped build confidence in their ability to succeed.
“I learned a lot about golf course maintenance and really enjoyed being out here in nature,” said cohort participant Jeremy Wise. “This has paid off. I can definitely see myself doing seasonal work like this in the future.”
The success of this cohort was made possible through the comprehensive support of the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs, in partnership with the Goodwill Opportunity Center in Corbin.
About EKCEP
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network.
EKCEP’s Recovery & Reentry division provides comprehensive career and support services to individuals in recovery, helping them re-enter the workforce and build sustainable futures. Learn more at ekcep.org.