A Northern Kentucky-based nonprofit that focuses on building the region’s skilled trades workforce will receive $400,000 from Kenton County.
On Jan. 13, the Kenton County Fiscal Court approved $400,00 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for TradesNKY. This funding will cover one-time startup costs to establish a hands-on, trades-based career exploration and skills development program at six Title I middle schools in Kenton County.
The program is designed to address lost instructional time and restore access to experiential learning opportunities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This investment allows us to meet students where they are and reintroduce hands-on learning that was disrupted during the pandemic,” TradesNKY Executive Director Lorraine O’Moore said in a news release.
More specifically, the grant will support classroom conversions, provide industry-standard equipment, and supply consumable materials for one year at participating schools. The program specifically targets students who were disproportionately affected by disruptions to in-person learning.