Workforce & Training

Our region boasts a skilled and dedicated workforce that is ready to drive performance and profitability for businesses of all sizes. The Kentucky Cornerstone labor pool offers a competitive advantage with a large and diverse pool of over 1.6 million workers in a labor shed encompassing 18 counties in Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, and  and Western Tennessee. This workforce is further strengthened by being located in a right-to-work state which ensures a potent participation rate. Additionally, the workforce is well-trained and has acquired relevant essential skills, thanks to a high-achieving education system and a coordinated effort that nurtures the development of critical middle manufacturing skills as early as middle school. This skilled and dedicated workforce is ready to help businesses achieve their goals, and grow their bottom line.

Connect to the power of craftsmanship and pride with the Kentucky Cornerstone workforce. Draw your team from a labor pool of 1.6+ million in 13 hard-working, pro-business counties. Leverage a regional skill set that combines ingenuity and ingrained problem-solving ability with expertise honed through cutting-edge technical training at leading institutions including West KY Community and Technical College, Murray State University, and UK College of Engineering-Paducah.

HOPFAME is the HCC chapter of KYFAME, a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement apprentice-style training to create a pipeline of highly-skilled workers. The concept offers a five-semester college degree program that matches higher education with continuous real-world experience.

Work and learn in advanced manufacturing!

While HOPFAME is ideal for recent high school graduates, current manufacturing employees, and military veterans, it is open to anyone who meets the eligibility requirements listed below and wants to pursue high-paying, diverse career options in advanced manufacturing. As a program participant, you will earn a competitive salary while attending college and potentially graduate debt free! Attend class full time two days a week and apply what you learn in class at work with your sponsoring manufacturer three days each week.

HOPFAME offers more than college classes. Your coursework will include not only essential hands-on technical training but also instruction in lean manufacturing principles and critical workplace behaviors. You'll graduate with 18 months of work experience, extensive knowledge in electricity, fluid power, mechanics, fabrication and robotics, as well as the personal skills that help you become a stand out employee.

HOPFAME Participating Manufacturers

Participating manufacturers are members of the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education. These companies have banded together to partner with HCC to create world-class technicians for the workforce of tomorrow.

  • Brazeway
  • Comefri
  • Contiental Mills
  • Douglas Autotech
  • Huhtamaki
  • LG Electronics 
  • Martinrea
  • Metalsa Structural Products
  • Novelis
  • Par4 Plastics
  • Plymouth Engineered Shapes
  • Pregis 
  • Riken Elastomers
  • T.RAD North America
  • Toyoda Gosei
  • Treehouse Foods
  • Wabash
  • White Drive Products

Business and Industry Services

Workforce Solutions offers a variety of training opportunities. These programs can be customized to the specific needs of a business. The training can be provided at the company's site and on the company's schedule, or we can host the training on campus. In many cases, funding is available to offset the cost of some training.

KCTCS-TRAINS

The centerpiece of the KCTCS workforce and economic development efforts is the KCTCS-TRAINS program. KCTCS-TRAINS is part of the Kentucky Skills Network, which is a partnership of workforce professionals from the Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky Career Center (Education& Workforce Development Cabinet), Labor Cabinet and KCTCS who are dedicated to providing solutions-based services for you. Through KCTCS-TRAINS, WKCTC will work with you to provide the training your employees need to keep your company competitive in today's global economy.

Through KCTCS-TRAINS, companies receive funding to assist with the cost of providing workforce training and assessment services to current, as well as, potential employees. KCTCS-TRAINS funds are distributed on a project basis and require a company cash match of 50%. The WKCTC Workforce Solutions staff will assist companies in developing training plans and applying for KCTCS-TRAINS funding.

Companies may apply individually or as a training network with other companies. The training networks meet common training needs of business and industry from various sectors of the economy. The network approach is successful because companies who only need one or two employees trained are able to join with othercompanies to obtain cost-effective and timely training. WKCTC Workforce Solutions staff will assist companies in developing the training networks.

The following list includes printable flyers for some of the specific training areas:

 

Hopkinsville Community College

HOPFAME is the HCC chapter of KYFAME, a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement apprentice-style training to create a pipeline of highly-skilled workers. The concept offers a five-semester college degree program that matches higher education with continuous real-world experience.

Work and learn in advanced manufacturing!

While HOPFAME is ideal for recent high school graduates, current manufacturing employees, and military veterans, it is open to anyone who meets the eligibility requirements listed below and wants to pursue high-paying, diverse career options in advanced manufacturing. As a program participant, you will earn a competitive salary while attending college and potentially graduate debt free! Attend class full time two days a week and apply what you learn in class at work with your sponsoring manufacturer three days each week.

HOPFAME offers more than college classes. Your coursework will include not only essential hands-on technical training but also instruction in lean manufacturing principles and critical workplace behaviors. You'll graduate with 18 months of work experience, extensive knowledge in electricity, fluid power, mechanics, fabrication and robotics, as well as the personal skills that help you become a stand out employee.

HOPFAME Participating Manufacturers

Participating manufacturers are members of the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education. These companies have banded together to partner with HCC to create world-class technicians for the workforce of tomorrow.

  • Brazeway
  • Comefri
  • Contiental Mills
  • Douglas Autotech
  • Huhtamaki
  • LG Electronics 
  • Martinrea
  • Metalsa Structural Products
  • Novelis
  • Par4 Plastics
  • Plymouth Engineered Shapes
  • Pregis 
  • Riken Elastomers
  • T.RAD North America
  • Toyoda Gosei
  • Treehouse Foods
  • Wabash
  • White Drive Products

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Business and Industry Services

Workforce Solutions offers a variety of training opportunities. These programs can be customized to the specific needs of a business. The training can be provided at the company's site and on the company's schedule, or we can host the training on campus. In many cases, funding is available to offset the cost of some training.

KCTCS-TRAINS

The centerpiece of the KCTCS workforce and economic development efforts is the KCTCS-TRAINS program. KCTCS-TRAINS is part of the Kentucky Skills Network, which is a partnership of workforce professionals from the Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky Career Center (Education& Workforce Development Cabinet), Labor Cabinet and KCTCS who are dedicated to providing solutions-based services for you. Through KCTCS-TRAINS, WKCTC will work with you to provide the training your employees need to keep your company competitive in today's global economy.

Through KCTCS-TRAINS, companies receive funding to assist with the cost of providing workforce training and assessment services to current, as well as, potential employees. KCTCS-TRAINS funds are distributed on a project basis and require a company cash match of 50%. The WKCTC Workforce Solutions staff will assist companies in developing training plans and applying for KCTCS-TRAINS funding.

Companies may apply individually or as a training network with other companies. The training networks meet common training needs of business and industry from various sectors of the economy. The network approach is successful because companies who only need one or two employees trained are able to join with othercompanies to obtain cost-effective and timely training. WKCTC Workforce Solutions staff will assist companies in developing the training networks.

The following list includes printable flyers for some of the specific training areas:

 



 ADD ITEM TO REPORT

As you navigate our website, you can use the “Add Item to Report” button to add any page or property to a custom report that you can print out or save.