Community partnerships play an important role in eastern Kentucky's flood recovery. The Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program is partnering with several local efforts to help build up the workforce in the region.
Jeff Whitehead is the Executive Director of EKCEP. He said the summer floods highlighted an ongoing issue.
“We’ve been aware of the growing need in the region long-term with the aging workforce for folks in skilled trades and in the construction industry. The flooding that we’ve had recently has really exposed the need that we have,” said Whitehead.
Whitehead said volunteers have worked hard to help with flood recovery and repairs, but there is skilled work that still needs to be done. Whitehead said long-term flood recovery is complex.
“Cause you’ve got the whole issue of housing and a lot of things like that, but absolutely, people need a place to work. They have to have a place to live, which is part of the issues with the flooding. But once that’s taken care of, they also have to have a place to work and thrive and have sustainable wages,” said Whitehead.
EKCEP is partnering with the TEK Center in Inez, which will train people in skilled trades. They are also working with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System on an ag-tech apprenticeship program. Both organizations recently won funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Whitehead said having skilled workers already in place would be an asset for any future natural disaster.
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