The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is investing nearly $3 million in the upcoming years to strive towards closing ‘workforce gaps’ through an apprenticeship style initiative.
According to a news release, KCTCS President Jay Box says, “We want to modernize the way we develop apprenticeships and other workforce training to help businesses grow their own talent and assist students through hands-on training in the workplace while they go to school.”
KCTCS believes that evolving its model of apprenticeships is a win-win for employers and employees and the next step to support industry in the state. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 91% of apprentices across the country are still employed with their companies after the completing their program. The 16 KCTCS colleges currently work with business partners to provide locally relevant programs. One of the most popular programs is the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, which works in a similar way.
Each college will have a person dedicated to leading the programs in their communities beginning in early 2020.