$2 Million Federal Grant to Expand Job Training in Eastern Kentucky

State of Kentucky

Thanks to a new $2.2 million grant from the federal Economic Development Agency (EDA), more Kentuckians will receive training for in-demand telecommunications jobs related to the new statewide project, KentuckyWired, which will install more than 3,400 miles of fiber optic cable throughout the state.

The funds will support construction of a $4.5 million training facility to house the Broadband Technology Center on the Pikeville campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC). Working in partnership with the University of Pikeville (UPIKE) and the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), the BSCTC Broadband Technology Center will house the Kentucky Regional Telecommunications Installation and Maintenance Training Program, and will serve as a hub of broadband education and training in the southeastern region of the United States.

“New jobs are coming to eastern Kentucky – high-tech, good-paying, long-term jobs are already being secured in our region by the I-Way, our new technology highway now under construction,” said Congressman Hal Rogers, co-chair of SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region) . “This new training facility is a critical step for preparing our students and workforce for the newfound opportunities that lie ahead. The only limits for the I-Way are our ingenuity and preparation.”

Earlier this year, Senator Mitch McConnell contacted EDA in support of the competitive grant application, highlighting that the educational and workforce training facility would offer certifications and degrees in telecommunications installation and maintenance for industry technicians.

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