ERLANGER, Ky. — Kenton County Fiscal Court has solidified an agreement between the Enzweiler Building Institute and Kenton County to provide skilled trades training to 240 Kenton County public and private high school students and 400 Kenton County adults over the coming years.
Additionally, at a prior meeting, the Fiscal Court committed to assist the Institute with operational and gap financing for the full build out of their new Covington location on Winston Avenue in Latonia, Ky.
The funding will help to fill the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry caused by the pandemic. A total of over $3.5 million was committed by Kenton County to the program. The partnership will support high schools in a program that will allow Kenton County students to attend an introduction to trades program Monday through Thursday during the normal school year. High school students will receive four credit hours towards their high school diploma and gain valuable connections with the opportunity to work in a traditional or co-op program in the field their senior year.
The funding from Kenton County will help create new intensive 13-week courses. Programs include Electric, Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning; Masonry; Carpentry; Plumbing; Welding; Facilities Maintenance & Remodeling; and Historic Renovation through the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades.
Classes will be held 3-6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The first courses will begin Sept. 18, 2023. The funding will also provide for an innovative approach by helping to offset the salaries of skilled construction trades people to teach the program as a professional instructor.
Additional wraparound services are expected to be provided by the Life Learning Center through a future funding opportunity and partnership with Kenton County. This will enable the clients of Life Learning Center to learn construction trades through Enzweiler while adding to their life skills as the program develops.
“We are excited about this amazing opportunity to introduce Kenton County residents to the skilled construction trades,” said Brian Miller, EVP of the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky. “As we have been experiencing accelerated increases in construction wages, coupled with what seems an insurmountable challenge to fill the industry’s workforce impacted by the pandemic, this is an outstanding opportunity for those in Kenton County to establish a lifelong career with rewarding living wages.
“In the seven core components of construction that we teach, there is a need in Greater Cincinnati to fill over 65,000 career positions in the coming 10 years according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. When you look at the wage growth in these fields in the last decade, it only proves that a career in the skilled construction trades is not only providing a lucrative lifestyle, but also does so without accumulating long-term college debt,” Miller said. “Our post-secondary program is designed for an earn-while-you-learn model in traditional apprenticeship. This allows for today’s skilled trades professionals to pass along their knowledge, handiwork, and craft skills to those willing to enter the industry and enjoy the benefits of this lifelong lucrative career opportunity.”
Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann expressed strong support for the initiative.
“Partnering with the Enzweiler Building Institute to build our skilled trades workforce will address a significant need in the community, while helping 640 Kenton County residents individually elevate their skill sets and long-term earning potential,” Knochelmann said. “It’s a huge win for Kenton County to partner with the Building Industry Association to rebuild a sector of our workforce significantly impacted by the pandemic.”
