Patricia Cockrell says she almost skipped signing up for Trade Act benefits when she was laid off during the closure of Perry Manufacturing in 2009. Today Patricia is glad she changed her mind, because the Trade Act helped her go back to school and find a new job that she loves.

Patricia is a Perry County native who was a stay-at-home mom until her children were old enough to be in school.  When she first went to work she took restaurant jobs and worked her way up to be the manager of a local fast food place.

When she felt too burned out to go on in food service, she found a great new job at Perry Manufacturing.
Patricia worked for 15 years at Perry Manufacturing, working her way up from an entry-level position to lead tech associate of her department. 

“I loved working here,” Patricia said during a recent interview with her WIA Career Adviser Mona Sammons at the Perry County Jobsight workforce center. As she said “here” she gestured wistfully around her; the Perry County JobSight is in the remodeled Perry Manufacturing building. “I thought I was going to get to retire from this place.”

The sudden news that the factory was closing was a terrible blow.

“It was devastating,” she said.

Patricia immediately found herself in an uncertain and stressful situation because her husband is diabetic and had been covered only by Patricia’s health insurance.

Fortunately, Mona and other WIA staff responded quickly when Perry Manufacturing closed. Mona informed Patricia she was eligible for Trade Act assistance with retraining and other services that would help her get another job.

Patricia didn’t think she’d be interested in going back to school. But WIA staff encouraged her to consider it. They also showed her how she could keep her health insurance through the program, which she would not have been able to do if she’d went back to restaurant work.

Patricia was convinced, and became one of more than 100 former Perry Manufacturing workers who have received Trade Act assistance.

Patricia aced her Adult Education classes and then started Business Management classes at Hazard Community and Technical College. Her children and grandchildren watched as she graduated in May with honors after maintaining a 3.97 GPA.

“They were all so proud of me, and I’m proud of myself too,” she said.

Patricia now works as an office administrator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“It’s totally different from factory work, but I love it,” she said.

Patricia said anyone facing a layoff or looking for a job should definitely look into the workforce services available at the Perry County JobSight.

“It most definitely gave me the nudge I needed to succeed,” she said with a smile.

Mona said she was glad Patricia decided to sign up for the Trade Act program.

“We’ve enjoyed having her with us,” Mona said.

Mona works for the L.K.L.P. Community Action Agency, which provides workforce services at the Perry County JobSight and throughout Perry, Knott, Leslie and Letcher counties under contract with the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), Inc. EKCEP also manages the JobSight network, which provides workforce programs and services for jobseekers and employers in 23 mountain counties.

For more information about WIA Services in your area call 606-436-3161. Or visit www.jobsight.org or www.facebook.com/jobsight.