October is Manufacturing Month in Kentucky and the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council and Hopkinsville Community College are working together to strengthen that industry locally.
HCC has more than 25 advanced manufacturing partners and aligns its programs, including the Hopkinsville Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, with local business needs. This prepares students to walk out of college and into good paying careers. EDC Executive Director Carter Hendricks appeared on WHOP Friday and says manufacturing is a large portion of the economy in Christian, Todd and Trigg Counties, and by making sure there is a strong workforce in the area, even more industries will come to the area.
He says as everyone recovers from the impact of COVID-19, they’re seeing promising signs of further growth locally.
Students in HOPFAME attend classes two days a week and work for their sponsoring employer three days a week. Students are paid for their work and potentially graduate with no debt. HCC is recognized HOPFAME student Jacob Thomas, who graduated in May 2020 with an associate in applied science degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology. He recently accepted a full time position at Novelis in Guthrie.
Hendricks says many local industries are currently hiring, including Novelis, Metalsa and Transcraft.