The Muhlenberg Job Corps Center hosted its first 2020 Community Relations Council meeting on Feb. 20th to promote the center and its training programs to community members and inform members about the center’s community service projects and events on campus.

Muhlenberg Job Corps Business Community Liaison Jacob Groves introduced new Center Director Gavin Gorham to the CRC members and reviewed the center’s program rankings and current on-board strength or center enrollment. Muhlenberg Job Corps currently is ranked 59th out of 123 Job Corps centers nationwide.

Groves also shared information about the center’s new Career and Technical Training program — Material Handling and Distribution Operations — and how this new program can support area businesses, current work-based learning projects that offer student trainees on-the-job experience and ongoing community service projects and as well as those planned for the near future.

Groves discussed the new outreach and recruitment National Enrollee Assignment Plan (NEAP), which encourages Muhlenberg Job Corps to recruit and enroll more students from Kentucky and nearby areas of Tennessee. The NEAP plan encourages local Job Corps centers to train local students who want to live and work in the area, which provides area employers and potential employers with skilled entry-level employees. This local workforce is especially important as Muhlenberg County and surrounding areas work to attract new businesses and industry.

Two Heavy Equipment Operations students, Ronterious German and Michael David, spoke to CRC members about the training they are receiving at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center, what led them to enrolling at the center and what their goals are upon graduation from Muhlenberg Job Corps. German, who completed the program shortly after the CRC meeting, currently is interviewing for heavy equipment operator jobs. He attributes his success in the program to his instructors at Muhlenberg Job Corps.

Members of the Muhlenberg Job Corps Community Relations Council include representatives from the West Kentucky Workforce Board, Pennyrile Area District Development, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Kentucky Skills U, Muhlenberg County Sherriff’s Office, Muhlenberg County Opportunity Center, City of Drakesboro, Hope 2 All, Food Giant, The Insurance Depot, Farmer’s Bank & Trust and Todd County Schools.