EnergyState guest column by Dr. Megan Stith (published in New-Enterprise October 9, 2023)
As we stand at the precipice of unprecedented growth and transformation within our region, Elizabethtown Community & Technical College (ECTC) is deeply committed to not only providing education and training for the next generation of regional professionals but also to breaking down any barriers that enrolled or prospective students may encounter on their journey to achieving their goals. This commitment comes into sharper focus as our region experiences substantial population growth, as detailed in the recent long-term economic impact study commissioned by the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, titled Measuring the Impact of the BlueOval SK Battery Park on the Elizabethtown Metro Area.
ECTC partnered with the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce and other community partners to fund the report because we have a vested interest in the future of this region. As educators, we serve as conduits for workforce development, and the impact study unequivocally highlights the critical need for an unwavering focus on workforce development to successfully recruit and train the 5,000 workers needed to meet the demand that BlueOval SK will bring to our community.
Working in partnership with BlueOval SK, ECTC is addressing this challenge head-on. Construction of the on-site BlueOval SK and ECTC co-branded training facility, the only of its kind in the state, is well underway. The 42,000-square-foot building will provide training specifically for BlueOval employees, with a curriculum that will specialize in mechatronics, industrial electricity, battery technology and more. With decades of experience providing technical education and training, ECTC is well-positioned to provide the resources needed to prepare new employees for their role, whether they are recent high school graduates entering the workforce or seasoned professionals in advanced manufacturing.
But, just as our region’s anticipated population surge necessitates additional technical education resources, it also necessitates additional efforts to eliminate educational barriers. At ECTC, much of the work we do to help eliminate these barriers is achieved through the ECTC Foundation, an organization that works to change lives by connecting students working to advance in their careers through education with donors who want to make a meaningful and lasting impact.
A current initiative that truly encapsulates this mission is the Home for Hope Campaign. Working in partnership with Family Scholar House, the project seeks to eliminate the burdens of housing insecurity and transportation among ECTC students through the construction of a 48-unit housing facility on ECTC’s campus across the parking lot from the James S. Owen Humanities Building. To address community needs, priority will be given to student parents pursuing high-demand careers in healthcare and advanced manufacturing. In addition to two-and three-bedroom apartments, the campus will include technology and connectivity, a playground and a family services building with necessary programmatic space and resources for student-parent families.
If we can raise the appropriate amount of funds, this life-changing project will begin construction late this year and is expected to be completed in 2025.
In the pursuit of this project, we are working with a trusted and esteemed existing partner. Since ECTC began partnering with FSH, the organization has provided services, support and emergency assistance to 4,566 ECTC students and prospective students, many of whom face obstacles such as housing insecurity, unreliable transportation and food insecurity.
Through vouchers and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits awarded through the Kentucky Housing Corporation, FSH was able to leverage $11,170,000 toward the development and construction costs of the project, while ECTC will invest $550,000. FSH and ECTC are working together through the ECTC Foundation to raise the remaining funding needed to complete and operate the project, support rental assistance and address the emergency needs of families living on the campus. This means raising the remaining $3,090,000 through the comprehensive Home for Hope campaign to build and operate this self-sustaining program. With less than $1,000,000 left to reach our goal, our community’s support is needed to make this vision a reality.
The significance of your support cannot be overstated, and we deeply appreciate any contribution you can offer. By investing in this project, you are investing in the future of so many bright students here in our community.
With so much growth on our region’s horizon, we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture. With our partnership with BlueOval SK and the Home for Hope campaign, we are not merely responding to change but actively shaping the future of our community. With the unwavering support of our residents and partners, we can open doors to brighter prospects and empower our students to become the leaders, innovators and professionals our region needs.
To learn more about the Home for Hope campaign and to donate, please visit ectcforbetterlives.com. To access the entire economic impact study, visit hardinchamber.com/energystate.
Dr. Megan Stith serves as Chief Institutional Advancement Officer for Elizabethtown Community and Technical College and is the Executive Director of the ECTC Foundation. The ECTC Foundation is led by a local board of directors and is a D/B/A of the KCTCS Foundation, the independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognized as the charitable partner of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The KCTCS Foundation provides fiduciary oversight and management through this partnership, allowing 100% of donated funds to go directly to ECTC programs.
