New Report Shows Highlights Huge Impact of Ashland Community & Technical College on the FIVCO Area and Local Business Community

October 5, 2022

 

ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland Community & Technical College Workforce Solutions partnered with local companies to invest $170,451 in TRAINS funding for job training initiatives in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, found a new report on enrollment and workforce development. The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) released its inaugural Workforce and Economic Development Annual Report today – in connection with National Workforce Development Month – the first comprehensive synopsis of activities among KCTCS Workforce Solutions departments.

According to the report, Ashland Community & Technical College Workforce Solutions served 56 businesses last year. Those companies committed another $102,076 to develop employees with skills that meet the needs of a 21st century workforce.

At Ashland Community & Technical College, those initiatives included:

To assist with the exceptionally high turnover rate Long Term Care Facilities are facing, ACTC partnered with most local facilities to train over 270 nurse aides and 8 Kentucky Medication Aides. Combined with this partnership and open enrollment classes, over 400 nurse aides were trained in FY 22.

In FY 22, ACTC trained over 115 CDL Drivers, an increase from 88 last year, with over 90% employed upon completion.

“At Ashland Community & Technical College, led by our incredible Workforce Solutions staff and faculty, we’re committed to partnering with local companies to ensure they have a skilled and sustainable talent pipeline to not just survive but thrive in an ever-changing work environment,” said Dr. Larry Ferguson, “With labor shortages at historic levels, we know this work has never been more important – so I want to commend our administrators, educators, and instructors for their hard work and dedication to meeting this unprecedented need.”

In addition to Ashland Community & Technical College’s many successes, the report showcased that systemwide, KCTCS Workforce Solutions completed its highest performing year ever in the Commonwealth. Overall, more than $7.1 million was allocated for customizable employee training activities in FY 2022, up from $3.9 million the year prior. Moreover, the report found that the number of TRAINS projects led by KCTCS Workforce Solutions ballooned from 117 to 240 in the last fiscal year, new Workforce Solutions clients grew by 147 percent during that same period and enrollment jumped by 41 percent (up to 19,111).

Manufacturing was the top sector receiving services and funding under TRAINS overall, with $4,141,603 invested in 118 companies and a total of 142 companies served through customized solutions. Other leading sectors included healthcare, logistics and business services.

Of note, TRAINS offsets the cost of customized training for incumbent worker upskilling, pre-employment training, assessments, and apprenticeship programs. KCTCS has expanded financial assistance now offsetting 75 percent (up from 50 percent) of a business’s costs associated with developing tailored talent pipeline initiatives. 

With funding established by the Kentucky General Assembly, KCTCS is proud to deliver TRAINS-backed projects to help businesses across the Commonwealth equip their current and potential employees with the tools and on-the-job experience to succeed at work and beyond.

The full KCTCS Workforce and Economic Development Annual Report can be found here.