The state took the first official step in getting the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s newest satellite campus off the ground Monday with an announcement from the governor’s office.
In a news release, Beshear said the state Finance and Administration Cabinet is seeking professional design and construction administration proposals for a new on-site training facility to be constructed at the BlueOval SK Battery Park.
The new training facility will serve as a satellite campus for ECTC, the release said.
“A cutting-edge, flexible training facility designed to meet both the initial startup and long-term educational and training needs at BlueOvalSK is critical to the success of the most significant economic development project in Kentucky’s history,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in the release. “Once constructed, it will provide the classrooms used to train the employees who will produce these electric vehicle batteries. It will also include the laboratories that will be used in research and development of this advanced technology, as well as provide offices and meeting space for the faculty and staff.”
As previously reported, the Kentucky legislature has appropriated $25 million for the project.
The training facility will educate the workforce for BlueOval SK Battery Park, which is the site of twin lithium-ion battery manufacturing plants. The battery park is a joint venture between Ford Motor Co. and SK Innovations to produce batteries for Ford’s next generation of electric vehicles.
ECTC President and CEO Juston Pate said Tuesday he welcomed the announcement as an official start to the development.
“It’s just another tool in the toolbox to make the regional lead,” he said. “We’re happy to be a part of it.”
The release said detailed program needs of the facility are currently being determined by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and ECTC in collaboration with its manufacturing partners. Training will include but is not limited to advanced manufacturing laboratories and classrooms, technical laboratories and classrooms, faculty and staff offices and support spaces, transportation-related laboratories and classrooms, and workforce development offices and meeting rooms.
Pate said while the college will be involved in the planning and development of curriculum and the facility, it is too early to talk specifics.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” he said.
What Pate could say was ECTC will be a “big part of that training and delivery.”
“What has happened is we have started the state processes for requests for proposals to get the ball rolling,” he said. “At the same time we’re working with the Ford and SK Innovations team to develop the specific training programs and curriculums, so that when we’re ready to move into the design phase of the construction process, we’ll be ready.”
The training facility is an important part of Ford’s plan for the battery park, BlueOval SK Director of Workforce Development Liliana Ramirez said in the release.
“Leading the electrification revolution requires a skilled workforce to use and develop the latest technologies, and we appreciate that Ford’s partners in Kentucky understand the importance of workforce development and training,” she said. “The Commonwealth of Kentucky and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s new state-of-the-art facility on-site at BlueOvalSK Battery Park will allow Kentuckians to develop the skills needed as we prepare to usher in a new era of advanced manufacturing there.
According to the release, the goal is to bid the project in January 2023.
“It is exciting that these things are starting,” Pate said. “ECTC is proud to be in these conversations and plans. We look forward to growing this project and this region together.”
Gina Clear can be reached at 270-505-1418 or gclear@thenewsenterprise.com.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Terms of Use. The complete terms of use policy can be found at the bottom of this page.