STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
The Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board says it has been awarded a three-year National Dislocated Worker Grant designed to help nearly 300 laid-off workers across the region retrain and reconnect with long-term employment. Officials say the grant targets dislocated and underemployed workers, including those affected by recent layoffs at BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Akebono in Elizabethtown, Kentucky Cooperage in Lebanon and Moveret in Elizabethtown. According to the board, the grant funding will focus on retraining, on-the-job training initiatives and supportive services aimed at getting participants back into unsubsidized jobs.
This comes after many projects were planned in Barren County to support workers at the BlueOval SK battery plant in Glendale, which shuttered after a split between South Korean company, SK On, and Ford Motor Company.
The program is intended to promote long-term economic stability for workers and their families by prioritizing career paths that offer competitive wages, benefits, room for advancement and stable working conditions. Through the Kentucky Career Center–Lincoln Trail system, the Workforce Development Board and its workforce services provider, Career TEAM, will deliver individualized employment and training services. Each participant will go through a comprehensive assessment of existing skills, work history, career goals and barriers to employment.
Officials say Career Advisors will then help participants create personalized employment plans focused on rapid reemployment and long-term career success. Available services may include career coaching, resume and interview assistance, job search support and labor market information, along with direct connections to hiring employers. Participants may also access training opportunities in high-demand industries such as advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, business and information technology and skilled trades.
The program can also support on-the-job training and occupational skills training programs for eligible workers. To help remove barriers to work, officials say supportive services may be available for items like work clothing, tools, certifications and other job-related needs. The Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board, Career TEAM and regional partners plan to work closely with local employers to identify hiring needs and align training with workforce demand. They also expect to connect participants directly to open positions through hiring events, job matching and other recruitment activities.
“This grant provides an important opportunity to help workers affected by recent layoffs reconnect with employment opportunities and build long-term career stability,” said Jackie Masterson, workforce services director for the Lincoln Trail Area Development District. “By aligning training and employment services with the needs of regional employers, we can support job seekers in securing quality careers while strengthening the workforce across the Lincoln Trail region,” Masterson said.
Those interested in learning about eligibility can visit ltcareercenter.org/dislocated-workers for more information. Officials say questions may be directed to Kristin Reed, executive director for Career TEAM in the Lincoln Trail region, at kristinreed@careerteam.com.
Key Facts
– Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board awarded a three-year National Dislocated Worker Grant
– Nearly 300 dislocated workers in the region are expected to be served
– Workers from BlueOval SK Battery Park, Akebono, Kentucky Cooperage and Moveret are among those eligible
– Funds will support retraining, on-the-job training and supportive services
– Services delivered through Kentucky Career Center–Lincoln Trail and workforce provider Career TEAM
– Training available in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, healthcare and skilled trades
– Officials say the goal is rapid reemployment and long-term career stability
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