Over 70 Carl D. Perkins Job Corps male and female students have been working for over two month in Pikeville, Kentucky to assist people displaced by the July 17 flash flood in Pike County areas.

All of the construction Career Technical Training Programs at the center is being utilized to remodel a former motel in Pikeville into living quarters for residents who found themselves homeless after the devastating floods.

Thomas Rainey, Center Director of the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center, said this kind of project is ideal for Job Corps involvement. Rainey stated, “When a project like this comes along that allows the students to receive ‘hands on’ training in their skill of choice and the opportunity to volunteer their time to help those in need, everyone benefits.

Students and staff, in a collaborated effort with Codell Construction are remodeling two floors of the hotel. They are working on creating 14 different living spaces and two rooms which will be utilized as offices.

Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford was quoted in a recent article highlighting the students volunteer efforts as saying, “I can’t commend these guys enough. They are hot, they are dirty from all this work and some even a little bloody, but they manage to have smiles on their faces.”

The students have received an outpouring of recognition for their efforts through the local media and recently received individual certificates from the City of Pikeville for the hard work they have performed on this project.