A collaboration between the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), Inc. and the Kentucky Career Center has enabled a motivated young resident to transition from high school graduation to a skilled technical career in less than a year. Isaiah Smith, who set his sights on the utility industry early on, officially joined the workforce with Rural Splicing on September 22, 2025.
Smith’s journey began prior to his high school graduation when he proactively sought guidance to enter the lineman trade. Working alongside KCEOC’s Kentucky Career Center Career Advisor Rebecca Akins, Smith identified a pathway that included specialized training and commercial driver’s license (CDL) attainment through the Somerset Community College Lineman Training Center.
Upon graduating high school, Smith enrolled in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Out-of-School Youth program. This initiative is specifically designed to provide young Kentuckians with the career assessments, planning, and financial backing necessary to enter high-demand industries.
“Isaiah demonstrated an exceptional level of motivation and determination to build a strong career path from our very first meeting,” said Akins. “The Out-of-School Youth program provided the framework, but Isaiah’s willingness to put in the work is what turned those goals into a reality.”
To ensure Smith could focus entirely on his rigorous technical training, EKCEP provided a comprehensive suite of supportive services. When he began his program in August 2025, the agency assisted with tuition, housing costs, and other essential supplies.
His performance at the Lineman Training Center quickly caught the attention of industry recruiters. Even before completing his full training cycle, Smith’s work ethic and technical aptitude earned him a job offer in the fiber optics sector. He is now employed with Rural Splicing, where he will apply his skills to help expand critical infrastructure.
Smith’s rapid transition into the workforce underscores the effectiveness of the Out-of-School Youth Program in bridging the gap between education and sustainable employment. By removing financial barriers such as tuition and housing costs, the program allows participants to focus on the skill acquisition required for long-term career stability.
For young people in the 23-county EKCEP service area looking for similar opportunities, services are available at no cost through the Kentucky Career Center network.
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. Learn more at ekcep.org.