PRESTONSBURG — Big Sandy Community and Technical College has announced a collaborative effort with leading regional companies to boost the local workforce and enhance earning opportunities. The Education First Employer program partners with businesses across vital sectors.

Employers in the fields of health care, manufacturing, skilled trades, and others dedicated to making education accessible and investing in their workforce will hold the title Education First Employer.

Education First Employers must demonstrate a strong commitment to their workforce by offering benefits like tuition assistance, flexible work schedules and competitive pay. Moreover, these businesses must work closely with BSCTC to improve the employability skills of students, ensuring they are well-prepared for high-paying roles in the current economic landscape.

Governor Andy Beshear highlighted the timing of the initiative, noting Kentucky’s unprecedented economic growth, job creation, wage increases and historically low unemployment rates.

“The Education First Employers initiative will make sure this rising prosperity reaches every Kentuckian where they live,” Beshear said. “It will also help us keep our promise to provide the best workforce for the increasing number of employers choosing our state to do business.”

The majority of students leaving higher education are making an impossible choice, forced to put their finances and work schedule before their pursuit of a better life. Education First Employers are working with BSCTC to reverse this troubling trend.

“BSCTC is committed to partnering with local companies, increasing the skill level of our workforce and bettering the lives of our learners,” BSCTC chief workforce and marketing officer Rachelle Burchett said. “It is an honor to work alongside companies like Pikeville Medical Center to build a skilled workforce pipeline for our region’s future.”

BSCTC is now looking to expand the initiative, inviting companies that are investing in workforce development to sign the Education First Employer. See a full listing of current participating companies at kctcs.edu/education-first-employers.

Businesses interested in pursuing the Education First Employer distinction can visit kctcs.edu or contact Kelly Heckman at kelly.heckman@kctcs.edu with the KCTCS Workforce and Economic Development Office.