EKCEP Celebrates Success of eKAMI Graduates in Entering New Careers in Advanced Manufacturing
EKCEP Supports Students with $133,000 in Tuition Assistance
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.
EKCEP is proud to have played a role in supporting 19 of these graduates through the agency’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding. EKCEP provided $133,000 in tuition assistance, helping ensure these individuals could access the specialized training offered by eKAMI. Additionally, EKCEP allocated $8,300 in supportive services, which included transportation assistance and other resources to help students overcome potential barriers to participation.
Since eKAMI’s inception, EKCEP has supported 221 Eastern Kentuckians as they trained for careers in advanced manufacturing.
“We are thrilled to see another successful graduating class from eKAMI,” said EKCEP Executive Director Becky Carnes-Miller. “They are playing a pivotal role in helping train workers to enter careers in an in-demand sector like advanced manufacturing, and we applaud the graduates for their hard work and dedication and wish them the best of luck in their new careers.”
EKCEP recognizes the importance of investing in workforce development initiatives that equip individuals with the skills needed to thrive in high-demand industries like advanced manufacturing. The success of these graduates exemplifies the impact of such programs in preparing workers for today's economy.
Each of the 19 graduates supported through EKCEP funding has moved on to immediate employment, including Johnson Countian Robert Andre, who is beginning a career with Snap-On in Elizabethton, TN. He received tuition assistance and supportive services from Big Sandy Area Community Action Program, a Kentucky Career Center JobSight partner that provides WIOA services under contract with EKCEP.
“It has helped out a lot because Big Sandy has helped whenever I needed it,” Andre said. “Like say, I was low on gas and didn't have the money to get it, they'd help get the money to me if I needed any help. Like getting ready to move for my job, they would help me out and help get me situated. They helped out a whole lot in the process."
Those services were also crucial for Haskel Frye, who is making the move to Snap-On after his graduation, and echoed the notion that support from Big Sandy was an important part of the process, especially assistance with transportation.
“That was really important,” said Frye, a Johnson County resident, before adding that assistance from Big Sandy Career Advisor Jaime Welch “helped out tremendously.”
Both Andre and Frye agreed that the training from eKAMI and support there, such as access to hiring employers, were also critical to their success.
“We didn't have to look for jobs or anything,” Andre said. “As soon as [advanced manufacturing employers] heard that a new batch of students were here, they came in ready for an interview.”
Andre encourages anyone interested in a career in advanced manufacturing to seek out the resources and support available to them here in Eastern Kentucky.
“If anybody is wanting to try getting into this line of work, get with Big Sandy and eKAMI,” Andre said. “They will help you to the best of their ability and get you set.”
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 the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce 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 http://www.ekcep.org, http://www.jobsight.org and http://www.facebook.com/ekcep.
