Eastern KY receives $40 million for job training in coal communities
A dozen Eastern Kentucky counties will receive a total of around $40 million in federal funding to connect working-age residents to resources and training for jobs in a region heavily impacted by the decline of coal mining.
State data show last year, Eastern Kentucky’s unemployment rate was more than 7%, far higher that the Commonwealth’s overall rate of around 4%.
Brandon McBride, executive director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, said federal investment is critical for boosting local workforce capacity.
“We want to make sure that Appalachians have the skills and workforce training that they need to take advantage of new opportunities that might be coming into the region,” he explained.
The nonprofit Shaping Our Appalachian Region or SOAR is spearheading the project, in collaboration with major local employers Pikeville Medical Center and Appalachian Regional Healthcare, to build new training facilities. The funds will also be used to support businesses and nonprofits that focus on regional childcare, transportation and housing challenges – longstanding barriers to employment for rural and low-income communities.
Research shows job skills training can in some cases increase earnings by nearly 70%. McBride predicted future growth is expected in several industries.
“Right now we’re seeing growth in tourism, IT and cyber security. We’ve also seen some growth in manufacturing, especially in the automotive space, and then we’re also seeing growth in the healthcare industry,” McBride continued.
According to SOAR, healthcare has been among the fastest-growing local sector. Over the past three decades, the number of private sector healthcare employers in Eastern Kentucky increased by more than 200%.
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