Project Grant 23A60WO000028

AWARD PURPOSE.WORC PURPOSE: IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE JUSTICE40 INITIATIVE, THE PURPOSE OF THE WORC INITIATIVE GRANTS IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITIES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, RURAL AREAS, AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, AND PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR WORKERS WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE APPALACHIAN, DELTA, AND NORTHERN BORDER REGIONS, ENABLING THEM TO REMAIN AND THRIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES. PROJECT TITLE: COMPUTERIZED MANUFACTURING AND MACHINING TRAINING FOR RURAL WESTERN KENTUCKYGRANTEE REGION: DRADELIVERABLES EXPECTED OUTCOMES.TOTAL PARTICIPANTS: 174PARTICIPANTS OBTAINING NEW OR ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT: 10INTENDED BENEFICIARIES.TARGET POPULATION: NEW ENTRANTS (INCLUDES DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS) AND DISLOCATED WORKERS. AREAS TO BE SERVED: KENTUCKY COUNTIES OF CALDWELL, CRITTENDEN, HENDERSON, HOPKINS, MUHLENBERG, UNION, WEBSTERACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED.SUMMARY OF PROJECT: MACHINE TOOL SKILLS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AMONG MANUFACTURERS IN KENTUCKYS DELTA REGION, AS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE WEST KENTUCKY WORKFORCE BOARD AND GREEN RIVER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS 2022-25 STRATEGIC PLAN AND WELL-DOCUMENTED BY LABOR MARKET ANALYTICS DATA. DESPITE THE SUSTAINED, STEADY WORKFORCE DEMAND FOR MACHINE TOOL PROFESSIONALS, ENROLLMENT IN MCCS COMPUTERIZED MANUFACTURING AND MACHINING (CMM) PROGRAM HAS STRUGGLED. AS THE ONLY CMM POSTSECONDARY PROGRAM OF STUDY IN THE REGION, MCC PROPOSES TO REVITALIZE THE PROGRAM TO MEET INDUSTRY DEMAND. MCC WILL CONDUCT QUALITATIVE MARKET RESEARCH TO DETERMINE WHY EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AVAILABILITY OF GOOD JOBS IN THE MACHINE TOOL INDUSTRY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT IN THE CMM PROGRAM. ONCE BARRIERS ARE IDENTIFIED, MCC WILL CONDUCT TARGETED IN-PERSON MARKETING AMONG NEW ENTRANT AND DISLOCATED POPULATIONS, BOTH OF WHICH INCLUDE DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS. CONCURRENTLY, MCC WILL HIRE A WELL-QUALIFIED, FULL-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT A COMPETITIVE SALARY TO OVERSEE THE REVITALIZATION OF THE PROGRAM. IN SEPTEMBER 2021, THE COLLEGE LOST ITS CMM PROGRAM COORDINATOR DUE TO ILLNESS AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REFILL THE POSITION SINCE THEN. OFFERING A SALARY COMPETITIVE WITH INDUSTRY PAY HAS BEEN A BARRIER. WORC FUNDS WILL BE USED TO FUND THE POSITION AT A COMPETITIVE SALARY FOR THREE YEARS, GIVING THE PROGRAM TIME TO BUILD ADEQUATE ENROLLMENT TO SUSTAIN EXPENSES BEYOND THE PROJECT PERIOD. THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH COMMUNITY INPUT FROM A PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MCCS MINORITY ADVISORY COUNCIL WILL UPDATE AND OR CREATE NEW CURRICULUM CONTENT TO ENSURE TRAINING ALIGNS WITH INDUSTRY NEEDS. WORC FUNDS WILL BE USED TO UPGRADE AND REFURBISH EXISTING CMM LAB EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE STUDENTS ENGAGE IN AUTHENTIC, HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE GOOD JOB PRINCIPLES AMONG EMPLOYERS. MCC WILL PROVIDE, THROUGH ITS OFFICE OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO MACHINE TOOL EMPLOYERS THAT ENCOURAGES GOOD JOB PRINCIPLES, AND PARTNER WITH THE AREAS PUBLIC WORKFORCE SYSTEM TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS TO ADOPT ADDITIONAL GOOD JOB PRINCIPLES.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES.THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.