The 2018 SOAR Summit brought great news for the future of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC). The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded an advanced manufacturing technology grant to three KCTCS institutions: SKCTC, Big Sandy Community & Technical College (BSCTC) and Hazard Community & Technical College (HCTC).

“This grant will go far to help us provide advanced manufacturing technology training for people throughout our service region” says SKCTC President Dr. Vic Adams. “And as always, we are happy to partner with our friends at Hazard and Big Sandy.”

Dr. Rebecca Parrott, Vice President of Student Affairs at SKCTC, accepted the award on behalf of President Adams. Dr. Sherry Zylka, President of BSCTC, and Dr. Jennifer Lindon, President of HCTC, also accepted the award at the SOAR Summit.

According to the organization’s website, SOAR—Shaping Our Appalachian Region— is “a non-partisan economic development agency tasked to expand job creation, enhance regional opportunity, innovation, and identity, improve the quality of life, and support all those working to achieve these goals in Eastern Kentucky.”

The Summit gives members an opportunity to network and share their vision of Appalachia’s future, says Adams.

When asked how the grant will impact our communities, Adams has a ready answer: “This grant will help us put people back to work, serving the needs of business and industry, and our most important resource, local families. Southeast serves as a beacon of hope for our area, and this is one more way that we are helping build better lives.”