Cris Ritchie Cris Ritchie

EKCEP Awarded $2 Million in Appalachian Regional Commission POWER Funds to Enhance Career Development Services for High School Students in Eastern Kentucky

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.

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Cris Ritchie Cris Ritchie

EKCEP’s SITE Program Helps Stevi Shirley Obtain Peer Support Certificate to Advance Her Career

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.

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Cris Ritchie Cris Ritchie

EKCEP Celebrates Success of eKAMI Graduates in Entering New Careers in Advanced Manufacturing

Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) congratulates the recent graduates of the East Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI) on the successful completion of their training on Friday, July 19, in Paintsville. This accomplishment marks a significant step forward for these individuals as they embark on rewarding careers in advanced manufacturing. 

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Cris Ritchie Cris Ritchie

EKCEP Hosts Kick-Off and Training for Prosper Appalachia Program for High School Seniors 

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. 

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Cris Ritchie Cris Ritchie

Nursing Student Hannah Jackson Gets Start in Healthcare Field with Assistance from JobSight Career Center in Clay County

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.

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Jaeclinn Kiser Jaeclinn Kiser

Services at Daniel Boone JobSight Help Clay Countian Brasen Whitaker Connect with Work Opportunity in the Pharmacy Field

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.

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