More than 40 people came to the Morehead Regional Enterprise Center in West Liberty Dec. 15 to learn about opportunities to improve their earning power with three free training courses that will be provided through Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC). 
                                 
The training courses will teach people to be welders, certified nurse assistants, or emergency medical technicians, beginning this month. Gateway Community Action is partnering with MCTC to provide the training, which is made possible by funding from the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP).

Barbara Campbell, Chief Officer of Workforce Solutions at MCTC, was more than happy with the turnout.

“The college is so pleased to be working with EKCEP and Gateway Community Action to provide training opportunities for people of West Liberty and the surrounding area,” Campbell said. “The interest has been tremendous and we look forward to getting the training started and working with these new students very soon.”

Pat Motley, WIA Director for Gateway Community Action, also thought the turnout for the training orientation was impressive and demonstrated how important it is in the current economy for local job seekers to have the opportunity to improve their qualifications.

“The response to this joint effort to provide classroom training in West Liberty has been outstanding,” Motley said. “EKCEP, MCTC, and Gateway WIA are working together to make great things happen.”

At the orientation meeting, MCTC staff explained the curriculum and structure for each class and answered questions. Among other topics, they covered what would be expected from class participants, when and where the classes would be held, and the process for registering. Once the general information had been covered, the instructors divided the group into smaller groups for each class.

Scott Linkous, MCTC’s welding instructor, told his group of prospective students that he takes a hands-on approach to training that makes the classroom very much like an actual job. Few absences are allowed and students are expected to meet performance goals in their work, he said.

After meeting with her prospective students, Sally Parker, MCTC coordinator for nursing classes, said,  “We are excited to provide these students with the opportunity to obtain quality nurse aide training and thereby have the skills to provide care at a long-term care facility in the community.  The turnout was great and we look forward to working with MCTC’s new students.”

The three trainings offered in West Liberty are the latest in a series of training courses EKCEP is funding across 23 eastern Kentucky counties using money provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Each of the class-sized projects provides training to meet needs identified by area employers.

Information about this and other training opportunities available to eastern Kentuckians is available on the web at ekcep.org, or by calling toll free 1-877-512-WORK (9675).