Eastern Kentucky's childcare industry is welcoming a new generation of professionals with open arms, as 12 apprentices begin their training. Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), in partnership with the Kentucky Office of Employer and Apprenticeship Services (KEAS), the Governor's Office of Early Childhood (GOEC), and LKLP Head Start launched EKCEP’s first earn-while-you-learn, On-the-Job Training (OJT) contract for a Registered Apprenticeship in early childhood education this week.

Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) has partnered with the University of the Cumberlands’ Appalachian Institute for Workforce Development (AIWD) to help prepare people for work in customer service, especially in remote jobs, through a new online training program that will be free of charge for eligible participants. 

Registered apprenticeships are opening doors to promising futures for Kentuckians like Franklin Drake IV, a recent high school graduate from Lee County who is making waves in the city of Beattyville as a water treatment operator apprentice.

Employment services for Kentuckians in recovery from addiction have remained in sharp focus for staff at Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), which recently expanded services thanks in part to the award of $450,000 in funding from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. 

Finding a legitimate job online can feel overwhelming, especially when scams lurk on popular job sites. For William Younce, Teleworks USA was the unexpected gateway to a life-changing opportunity.

Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to implement the Career Pathfinder Network, a new and innovative pilot program that will enhance career development services for students enrolled in five high schools in Clay, Knox, Owsley, and Letcher counties.

Stevi Shirley's journey from addiction to recovery has been arduous, spanning nearly five years since she first entered treatment in December 2019. But today, thanks to her own determination and support from the Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment (SITE), she is poised to turn her lived experience into a lifeline for others battling substance use disorder.

After more than two decades of dedicated service to the people of Eastern Kentucky, Perry County native Michelle Feltner has announced her retirement from Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP).

Mary Hubbard's journey from a high school student working her first job at a local dental office to achieving her goal of becoming a registered nurse is a testament to both the power of perseverance and the support available for Eastern Kentuckians through the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network.

Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) hosted a kick-off training session in Hazard July 15-17 for its newly expanded Prosper Appalachia program. This event marked a significant milestone in EKCEP's ongoing efforts to empower high school students in Eastern Kentucky with the skills and resources needed to succeed in the modern workforce and access opportunities to enter careers close to home. 

High School students in Eastern Kentucky will get a jumpstart on their careers thanks to a $7.6 million award to Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) that will support students with crucial career services and help them explore and connect with employment opportunities within their own communities.

Hannah Jackson was already juggling the demands of full-time nursing studies at Somerset Community College when she enrolled in employment services through her local Kentucky Career Center JobSight in Clay County, hoping to find a job while continuing her studies. That decision paid off, first with a paid internship and eventually a full-time job that allowed her to gain real-world experience in healthcare while embarking on a fulfilling career path.

Justin Peters graduated from college in 2022 with a degree in computer information systems. A native of Jackson County, he wanted to start his career close to home but assumed his options there might be limited.

When Lee Countian Winston Tyler Logan was laid off for the winter from his job as head equipment operator in late 2023, it wasn’t all bad news; his employer made it clear that if he obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL), he would not only have a new position available to him but also at a higher salary.

When Brasen Whitaker was preparing for his senior year of high school in 2023, he wasn’t looking for just any summer job. He wanted to gain experience in a field that truly sparked his interest, and thanks to the services offered at his local Kentucky Career Center JobSight, he found himself not just earning a paycheck but getting a firsthand look at careers in the pharmacy field.

The Eastern Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (EKWIB) elected new leadership during its regular meeting on March 13 as Keith Gabbard was selected to chair Eastern Kentucky’s workforce board for a two-year term.

Scott Castle's journey from addiction to career is a testament to the power of second chances and the transformative impact of collaborative programs like SITE and drug court, and now he’s using that experience to provide support for others battling the same issues he faced just a few years ago.