ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC), Family Scholar House and BlueOval SK are joining forces to construct the brand-new BlueOval SK Family Services Building at the Family Scholar House ECTC Campus in Hardin County. Fueled by a five-year, $500,000 total pledge from BlueOval SK, the facility will provide much-needed wrap around services to help local families achieve academic, personal and professional success.
“This groundbreaking partnership will equip students and parents with the real-world tools and skills, as well as provide the necessary flexibility, to improve their lives and livelihoods,” BlueOval SK CEO Michael Adams said. “We are proud to call Hardin County home and committed to making a positive difference in the Commonwealth.”
When complete, the $14.8 million project will have 48 housing units and will include the BlueOval SK Family Services Building, where student parents and their families receive personal and professional support. Students will have access to childcare, food and other supportive services and resources from financial literacy workshops to children’s activities. Of note, program participants must be enrolled full-time in college and in a variety of trainings, counseling sessions and tutoring services to maintain eligibility.
ECTC serves Breckinridge, Green, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Taylor, and Washington counties in Kentucky. Family Scholar House, headquartered in Louisville, works to end the cycle of poverty by empowering families and youth to succeed in education. Learn more at www.familyscholarhouse.org.
BlueOval SK is the joint venture between Ford Motor Co. and SK On of South Korea to produce batteries for future Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles. SK On is a subsidiary of SK Innovation and has deep expertise in battery production. BlueOval SK will operate twin battery manufacturing facilities in Glendale, Ky., and one battery plant in Stanton, Tenn., starting in 2025.
“As an educator, I know that post-secondary education positively impacts a family’s trajectory for generations,” Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said. “I’m thrilled that strong community partners like Family Scholar House, Elizabethtown Community & Technical College and BlueOval SK worked together to make this dream a reality for families right here in Hardin County.”
In addition to Adams and Lt. Gov. Coleman, ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate noted that the project will be transformational for the region.
“This generous investment will support some of our most vulnerable students, giving them the certainty they need to build a brighter future,” Pate noted. “Many thanks to BlueOval SK and Family Scholar House for their dedication to not only our students, but our entire community.”
Among ECTC students served by Family Scholar House last year, there was enough demand to fill the 48-unit facility and put twice as many students on a waiting list. Once students complete their education and transition into stable housing, a new program participant will move into the graduate’s former unit.
“One of the best ways to offer hope to student parents working diligently to complete their education and training while raising their children is to show them that their community is invested in their success,” said Family Scholar House Chief Possibility Officer, President & CEO Cathy Dykstra. “With this very generous gift to the Home for Hope campaign and the naming of the Family Services Building, BOSK is providing meaningful support and a tangible reminder that they care about the community, especially vulnerable families on a path to self-sufficiency.”
Construction on the BlueOval SK Family Services Building is expected to begin this spring, and the project is expected to be completed by the Fall 2025 semester. To learn more, please visit ectc.us/Home-for-Hope.
