Classes begin Feb. 6 at TEK Center
BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — A new skilled trades training center will begin classes Feb. 6, 2023, in Inez to train heavy equipment operators, industrial maintenance mechanics and electricians.
Martin County Economic Development Authority agreed in a Sept. 13 meeting to lease the first floor of the business center to TEK Center, a new nonprofit facility geared toward meeting the demand for skilled trade workers in the region.
TEK Center founder Angela Reynolds, who discussed the project with the EDA in October 2021, attended the meeting last week.
“We’ve moved from a training center into a school,” Reynolds told the EDA. “We’re working on the process to become a state licensed proprietary educational facility.”
The school plans to start with heavy equipment operators, industrial maintenance mechanics and electricians training and add masonry, plumbing and carpentry later.
“All of these are nationally accredited and certified trainings that are recognized by the industry on a national level,” said Reynolds.
TEK Center received a $250,000 Statewide Reserve grant that Reynolds said would carry it through the first year. The center also applied for Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization, Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities, and Abandoned Mine Lands grants and awaits news on those.
“We’re fully funded and able to move forward with the project at this time,” said Reynolds. “We’d like to occupy the space November, December to give us renovation time, cleanup time, setup time, and then take full occupancy Jan. 1 for three years – two at the donated space and then one at a negotiated rental at that time. We need to have time to renovate that unfinished space and set it up to meet the needs of the school, put walls up in the classrooms, etc.
Reynolds plans to bring in local and regional high school juniors and seniors for tours starting in January 2023 to show them what would be available.
“Anyone who wants to come on board in 2023 can see the facility before training starts Feb. 6,” said Reynolds.
The center can accommodate up to 120 students and will start with four faculty members. The average tuition will be $16,000, and the first class should graduate in December 2023.
“Electrical takes a little longer in hours, costs a little bit more than heavy equipment, but if you average them out, it’s about $16,000,” explained Reynolds.
“We have a partnership with EKCEP that is part of that POWER grant application to provide $500,000 for tuition and training materials.”
EDA member Kayla Jude asked if the EKCEP funding would help pay student tuition.
“Yes, ma’am,” answered Reynolds.
Jude pointed out that EKCEP has other programs to assist students with tuition.
Reynolds agreed, “They also have another part of their program that helps with transportation; if they need boots for heavy equipment or whatever they may need. They have gas cards. Whatever they have a need of, they have another section to that, and they work with the students.”
In applying for grants, TEK Center received letters of support from Mountain Enterprise, Western Construction, Jigsaw Construction, Alliance Corporation, Hamilton Family Industries and others.
Jude asked if the school would connect graduates with those companies that wrote letters.
“Yes, we’ll be able to connect them,” said Reynolds. “Most of them have agreed to at least interview graduates.”
Jude sought assurance that graduates could achieve gainful employment, which meant pay of around $14 an hour in Eastern Kentucky.
“These are much higher-paying jobs,” said Reynolds. “I was part of the TPM [Talent Pipeline Management] collaborative with the Kentucky Chamber. The four industries in that – Mountain Enterprise, Western Construction, Walker Construction and Jigsaw Construction – the projections for those folks are 333 equipment operators over the next five years.”
Reynolds, who works for Mountain Enterprise in Hagerhill and founded TEK Center in July 2021, announced that TEK Center would like to purchase a facility “in two to three years and remain in Martin County.”
EDA member Mike Crum asked how TEK Center would commit to Martin County.
“To remain in the area, to purchase something here,” said Reynolds.
According to Reynolds, this will be the only facility of its kind in the state.
The EDA agreed to let TEK Center move into the business center Oct. 1.
KPDI grant
Martin County Judge/Executive Colby Kirk presented the EDA with a copy of a Kentucky Product Development Initiative grant application. He then introduced Sam Weber, who worked with Kirk on the application.
Weber addressed the EDA, saying he moved to Martin County about a year ago with the Teach for America program. He attended school at William and Mary in Virginia and graduated with a degree in political science.
“I’m interested in economic development, government and nonprofit,” Weber said. “I appreciate Colby for giving me the opportunity to kind of see what’s going on.”
Kirk told the EDA he had done a similar “shadowing internship” in the Harlan County Judge/Executive office.
“I’m trying to get as much out of Sam as Harlan County got out of me,” joked Kirk.
“Sam’s done great work on this application. I’ve been coaching him on what grant reviewers are looking for.”
The KPDI grant application seeks $200,000 to assist in rehabilitating the EDA’s industrial building in Debord if current tenant Boxvana vacates.
Tiny-home manufacturer Boxvana filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August, just days after the EDA filed an eviction case.
“My assumption is that we will not be justly compensated for all the funds owed to us,” said Kirk. “I hope we get some money. That’s why we’re participating in the bankruptcy process. But we’re looking at some significant repairs to the building. We’re probably going to have to shampoo carpets and look at window repairs based on the walk-through that happened over a year ago. We’ll have to make some repairs at our expense, and these funds will help us do that and get it ready hopefully for the next tenant.”
Boxvana bankruptcy
EDA chairman James Ayers gave members an update on the Boxvana bankruptcy. He said there was a meeting of creditors “a couple of weeks ago,” and the EDA’s proof of claim was due Oct. 11.
“My intent is to sign that and have it to our attorney later this week or next week,” Ayers said.
After a short executive session to discuss the Boxvana bankruptcy case, the EDA voted to allow Ayers to execute the proof claim and send it to the attorney. Steven Stoltz is the attorney representing the EDA in the bankruptcy.
The proof of claim is for $108,854.26.
“That is what is due to the authority based on the original lease,” said Ayers.
The EDA will meet Oct. 19 at 6 p.m.