Big Sandy Employers Pleased With Triple-Digit Turnout at JobSight Job Fair

[June 2008] "Employers and event organizers said Monday’s job fair at the Pike County JobSight workforce center exceeded all expectations by attracting nearly 200 people seeking jobs with 26 of the Big Sandy region’s top employers ... " Click here to read more.

Third Class of GCDF Graduates Recognized at Ceremony

[May 2008] "People must be willing to push their limits, build new skills, and tackle challenging tasks in order to become experts in their chosen careers. The 20 workforce professionals who recently became the latest graduates of the Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) program have proven they are willing to take those steps ... " Click here to read more.

James River Coal Officials Pleased With JobSight Job Fair

[April 2008] "About 114 people—including both experienced and inexperienced miners—attended a one-day JobSight job fair vying for underground coal mining jobs at James River Coal Company’s Leeco and Blue Diamond mines in Perry, Knott, and Leslie counties ... " Click here to read more.

WIA Helps Johnny Napier Become Physical Therapist

[February 2008] "The hard knocks Johnny Napier and his teammates received during four years of high school football spurred the Harlan County native to consider a career as a physical therapist even as a teen. Years later, Johnny says his desire to help others in need gives him an even greater appreciation of the help he received through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program ... " Click here to read more.

 

Jeff Whitehead Named New EKCEP Executive Director

[January 2008] "Jeff Whitehead, an 18-year employee of the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP), has been tapped to lead the Hazard-based workforce development agency as its new executive director. Whitehead replaces Mable Duke, who retired from the agency’s top post effective Dec. 31, 2007 ... " Click here to read more.

Mable Duke Retires as EKCEP Executive Director After 22-Year Career

[January 2008] "Mable Duke has retired as executive director of the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) following a highly successful, 22-year tenure with the Hazard-based workforce agency. Duke’s years of service are marked by innovation, achievement, and repeated statewide and national recognition for EKCEP ... " Click here to read more.

JobSight Helping Perry Coal Company Find New Miners, Expand Operations

[January 2008] "The Perry County JobSight workforce center recently aided expansion efforts by TECO Coal by hosting a job fair that attracted more than 100 people seeking underground mining jobs with the company. TECO officials are crediting the successful turnout with helping the company remain on pace to expand its Perry County operations by early spring ... " Click here to read more.

Chair of EKCEP Workforce Board Published in Statewide Magazine

[November 2007] "State Rep. Rocky Adkins—who also chairs Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program's (EKCEP) Workforce Investment Board (WIB)—was recently published in the statewide Kentucky Farm Bureau News magazine ... " Click here to read more.

 

JobSight Helping Workers Rebound From Closure of Mid-South Electronics

[October 2007] "Rick Hundley was only a few months shy of his five-year anniversary at Mid-South Electronics when he and about 400 others lost their jobs when the Jackson County plant closed. Hundley now considers the layoff “a blessing in disguise” because of the guidance and assistance he received through the JobSight workforce network that helped him transition into a new career ... " Click here to read more.

EKCEP Honored Before U.S. Senate, Ky. House for National USDOL Award

[September 2007] "EKCEP has been publicly recognized before both the U.S. Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives for garnering a national award for its success in addressing the workforce needs of eastern Kentucky's coal industry ... " Click here to read more.

 

More Than 100 Pike County Coal Miners Train on Success Xpress

[September 2007] "More than 100 miners with the McCoy Elkhorn Coal Company enhanced their skills by using some of the industry’s most state-of-the-art training tools aboard the Success Xpress. As Success Xpress concluded a two-week stay at McCoy Elkhorn’s Pike County mines, Safety Coordinator Gary Lockhart said he considers the training stop a great success ... " Click here to read more.

 

Buckhorn Officials Pleased with Results of JobSight Job Fair

[August 2007] "Officials with Buckhorn Children and Family Services are pleased with the applicants who turned out for a job fair at the Perry County JobSight workforce center seeking skilled positions with the agency ... " Click here to read more.

EKCEP's Coal Services Program Garners National Award from USDOL

[August 2007] "The Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) has received a national award for its success in helping address the workforce needs of eastern Kentucky’s coal industry ... " Click here to read more.

 

NEKACC WIA Youth Program Inspires Community With Veterans' Mural

[August 2007] "A summer project launched by the Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency's Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Transition Program has created a lasting, public memorial honoring the sacrifice of American servicemen and women ... " Click here to read more.

KCEOC Job Fair Attracts More Than 100 Seeking High-Tech Jobs

[August 2007] "Employers and event organizers were pleased that about 120 people attended a recent job fair in Barbourville seeking employment with five of the area’s top technology-based call centers ... " Click here to read more.

Collaborative Training Effort Helps Annville Plant Jumpstart Operations

[August 2007] "A collaborative training effort supplemented by the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) is helping a Jackson County manufacturing plant jumpstart its operations by building a culture of economy and versatility among its employees ... " Click here to read more.

Harlan Miners Get High-Tech Training Aboard Success Xpress

[August 2007] "Nearly 30 underground coal miners and electricians with the Harlan-Cumberland Coal Company have learned new skills using some of the industry’s most high-tech training equipment aboard the Success Xpress, a mobile training facility built into a 53-foot truck trailer ... " Click here to read more.

EKCEP, JobSight Officials Pleased With Turnout at Regional Job Fair

[July 2007] "Nearly 200 people seeking jobs with employers in Clay, Jackson, Knox, and Laurel counties turned up for a July 12 job fair in Manchester ... " Click here to read more.

Students Experience Appalachian Culture in NEKACC WIA Youth Activity

[June 2007] "What do flint knapping, circle dancing, quilting, and fishing have in common? All are integral pieces of eastern Kentucky’s cultural fabric. For two days in June, 37 young people from Carter, Elliott, and Lawrence counties immersed themselves in these and other traditional Appalachian activities at an “Appalachian Adventure” at Jenny Wiley State Park ... " Click here to read more.

Jackson Countians Honored for Completing Computer Training Program

[June 2007] "Ten Jackson County residents were honored for completing 120 hours of basic computer training that will prepare them to succeed in today’s high-tech workplace ... " Click here to read more.

About 200 James River Coal Miners Train on Success Xpress in Perry County

[June 2007] "About 200 underground coal miners and electricians at James River Coal Company’s two Perry County subsidiaries learned new skills using some of the industry’s most high-tech training equipment aboard the Success Xpress. The Success Xpress spent a week training miners at the company’s Leeco mine at Jeff, and an additional week at the Blue Diamond mine at Leatherwood ... " Click here to read more.

Prestigious GCDF Certification Presented to 20 JobSight Career Advisers

[May 2007] "The prestigious Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) certification was presented to 20 career advisers who work in the JobSight workforce network at a graduation ceremony held May 12. The career advisers earned the nationally recognized certification through more than 120 hours of intensive training and personal study during the 10-month GCDF training course. The class was the second to take advantage of GCDF training provided through EKCEP, which ... " Click here to read more.

Perry Countians Build Financial Skills at Fourth Annual Economic Summit

[May 2007] "Tax refunds of more than $2 million will be received by more than 1,600 eastern Kentucky taxpayers this year thanks to the fourth consecutive successful effort of the Eastern Kentucky Asset Building Collaboration (EKABC), a multi-agency cooperative effort bolstered by the involvement of the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) and its JobSight network of workforce centers. The results were announced at the outset of the fourth annual Eastern Kentucky Economic Summit ... " Click here to read more.

Nearly 50 Applicants Turn Out for Lowe's Job Fair at Perry JobSight

[May 2007] "Lowe's Home Improvement officials were pleased that its May 3 job fair at the Perry County JobSight attracted nearly 50 people seeking seasonal employment at the Hazard Lowe's store ... " Click here to read more.

Success Xpress Makes Stop at MSHA District Office in Barbourville

[May 2007] "The Success Xpress mobile coal miner training facility rolled into the District Seven office of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in Barbourville last week to give representatives of the federal regulatory agency a look at some of the coal industry's most advanced training simulators ... " Click here to read more.

Jr. Coal Academy Students Get 'Hands-On' Experience on Success Xpress

[April 2007] "Though still in high school, Brandon Smith got a taste of what it is like to operate one of the most crucial pieces of equipment in underground coal mining this week, thanks to the computer simulator aboard the Success Xpress mobile training facility ... " Click here to read more.

UPS Uses JobSight to Recruit Graduating Seniors for Louisville Jobs

[March 2007] "UPS officials were extremely pleased with the area students who showed up at the Perry County JobSight workforce center for a job fair that offered free college tuition in return for a commitment to work part-time at the company's Louisville facility ... " Click here to read more.

Collaborative Training Effort Helps Barbourville Factory Get 'Lean'

[March 2007] "A collaborative training effort supplemented by the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) is helping a Barbourville manufacturing plant get “leaner” and remain successful in an increasingly competitive global economy ... " Click here to read more.

JobSight Helping WestCare Residents Get Back in Workforce After Treatment

[January 2007] "Jim Stewart, manager of the Pike County JobSight workforce center, is taking a personal role in helping residents of the WestCare substance abuse treatment facility get back in the workforce after completing treatment ... " Click here to read more.

JobSight Job Fair for Lowe's 'Exceeds All Expectations'

[January 2007] "Lowe’s Home Improvement officials said the turnout for its latest job fair at the Perry County JobSight “exceeded all expectations” by attracting nearly 80 people vying for job opportunities in the region’s Lowe’s stores ... " Click here to read more.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher Presents EKCEP $400,000 in WIA Funds

[December 2006] "Governor Ernie Fletcher presented $400,000 in statewide reserve funds to EKCEP during a visit to Hazard on Dec. 14. EKCEP will use the funds to provide expanded employer-specific workforce training in its 23-county service region ... " Click here to read more.

Governor, Education Secretary Tour 'Success Xpress' Mobile Training Unit

[December 2006] "Governor Ernie Fletcher got a firsthand look at the future of coal miner training in eastern Kentucky on Dec. 14 when he climbed aboard the "Success XPress," EKCEP's new custom-built, state-of-the-art mobile training unit ... " Click here to read more.

Graduate of Coal Careers Program Seeing Success in New Mining Career

[November 2006] "About 10 months ago, Mark McKenzie’s plans didn’t include building a home, but they did include escaping the fast-food industry and the limited opportunities it provided. Mark chose to pursue training for a mining career by enrolling in the Coal Careers Program ... " Click here to read more.

Perry JobSight Helps Iraq Veteran Start New Business, New Life

[November 2006] "Jason Combs walked into the Perry County JobSight workforce center in April battle-scarred, depressed, and out of work. He walked out with a positive outlook and the tools he needed to launch his own business ... " Click here to read more.

James River Miners Get Emergency Training at Perry County JobSight

[October 2006] "Coal miner Wade Coots is unresponsive, lying flat on his back. Fellow miner Lou Mills hurries to his side, quickly crouches beside him and listens for a heartbeat. In a mine emergency, the assessment Mills is performing can help determine how critically a miner is injured. But this time, it is only practice ... " Click here to read more.

Opportunities 'Cooking' on West Coast for Clay County Native

[September 2006] "Chef Michelle Harris was back in her hometown of Manchester recently, but she didn't stay long. There were too many opportunities 'cooking' on the west coast ... " Click here to read more.

Students Earn Laptops by Participating in WIA Youth Transition Program

[September 2006] "A good laptop computer is important to succeeding in college today, but they are not cheap. That is why six college-bound high school seniors jumped at the opportunity when the WIA Youth Transition Program at the Bell County JobSight recently offered each of them a laptop valued at $1,000 ... " Click here to read more.


Coal Careers Program Graduates Second Class of Coal Miners

[September 2006] "Ten new miners have been trained and will enter the coal industry thanks to the Coal Careers Program, a component of the new Kentucky Coal Academy that is supplemented by funding from EKCEP ... " Click here to read more.

EKCEP CDL Training Program Helps Floyd Company Expand

[September 2006] "Michael Tackett was stuck in a cycle of dead-end construction jobs. At the same time, Universal Well Service in Floyd County was unable to find enough trained drivers to expand its drilling operations to meet today's increased demand for natural gas ... " Click here to read more.

U.S. Dept. of Labor, UK Websites Feature April Perkins' Success Story

[August 2006] "The story of how EKCEP and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs helped Morgan County R.N. April Perkins overcome her daughter's cancer and financial struggles to complete her nursing studies is now featured on national and statewide on-line news outlets ... " Click here to read more.


JobSight Helping Drug Court Participants Get Back in Workforce

[August 2006] "One of the primary functions of the JobSight network is helping eastern Kentuckians prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce. A partnership between JobSight and courts in Perry and Knott counties is now helping participants ... " Click here to read more.

First Graduates of Coal Careers Program Get Jobs in Coal Industry

[July 2006] "Dean Baldwin had worked stints at several jobs before deciding to look for a job mining coal. Baldwin's path into the coal industry became much easier after he was accepted into the Coal Careers Program ... " Click here to read more.

State Awards 'Education at Work' Scholarships to Eight Eastern Kentuckians

[July 2006]
"Kentucky has awarded $1,000 scholarships to four students who are participants in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs administered by the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) ... " Click here to read more.

JobSight Career Advisers Earn Prestigious GCDF Certification

[May 2006]
The prestigious Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) certification has been earned by 18 career advisers who work in the JobSight network ... Click here to read more.


JobSight Job Fair Draws 150 Seeking Coal Careers with CONSOL

[May 2006]
The Perry County JobSight did its part to ensure that CONSOL of Kentucky--one of the region's top coal producers--finds the manpower it needs to keep up with the escalating demand for coal ... Click here to read more.

Regional Lowe's Job Fair Brings in More than 100 Job Seekers to Perry JobSight

[April 2006]
The Perry County JobSight did its part to ensure that CONSOL of Kentucky--one of the region's top coal producers--finds the manpower it needs to keep up with the escalating demand for coal ... Click here to read more.

Triple-Digit Turnout at JobSight Job Fair Pleases Lowe's Officials

[March 2006]
More than 100 people turned out to 'throw their hats in the ring' for job opportunities with the Hazard Lowe's home improvement warehouse at a day-long job fair at the Perry County JobSight ... Click here to read more.


Nearly 200 Attend JobSight Job Fair for Coal Careers with ICG

[March 2006]
Less than two hours into Perry County JobSight’s job fair for International Coal Group (ICG), the event already qualified as “a huge success,” according to Buddy Johnston, regional human resources manager for ICG’s Kentucky operations ... Click here to read more.


Employer Services Help James River Coal Find 'Star-Quality' Miners

[February 2006]
There is only one Michael Jordan, and he is a sports superstar, not a coal miner. But the James River Coal Company has discovered two employees who match Jordan's star quality, thanks to the employer services provided by EKCEP ... Click here to read more.

$3 Million Grant to Help Coal Industry Correct Shortage of Miners

[January 2006]
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $3 million grant for training coal miners to EKCEP, Inc. and the West Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (WKWIB) ... Click here to read more.

JobFit Helping Nearly 10,000 Eastern Kentucky Job Seekers

[October 2005]
The JobFit on-line job-matching service provided by EKCEP is nearing the milestone of having 10,000 job seekers enrolled, lesss than two and one-half years after the service was introduced ... Click here to read more.

Marsha Ison Retires After 24-Year Career with EKCEP

[July 2004]
Many things have come and gone over the years at EKCEP; Marsha Ison has remained. After helping steer EKCEP successfully through numerous challenges for 24 years, Marsha's tenure with the agency will officially end when she retires on July 31. Marsha has worked under four different executive directors, and three different federal enabling statutes since 1979, when she ... Click here to read more.