New EKCEP Business Solutions helps local employers find and train workers

EKCEP announced a shift in its long running workforce services on December 22, launching EKCEP Business Solutions to give employers a single point of contact embedded with local community action partners across 23 counties. The program is available at no cost to employers and is designed to help regional businesses recruit, train and retain workers through a suite of practical tools.

Services under Business Solutions include recruitment support, on the job training reimbursements, registered apprenticeships, incumbent worker training and other workforce tools that reduce the financial risk employers face when hiring and training new staff. Employers can access the program through local Kentucky Career Center offices or via the EKCEP website, making it straightforward for small businesses to tap services without managing multiple agencies.

Local impacts are already taking shape. EKCEP leaders and a participating employer, Mark Energy, reported the program has helped develop internships and apprenticeships and has eased costs associated with training new hires. Mark Energy operates mines in Line Fork and Eolia, and those efforts could translate into more structured pathways from training to work for Perry County residents who seek stable employment in local industries.

For Perry County employers, the concierge style approach may change hiring calculus by offsetting upfront training expenses and connecting firms with qualified candidates. That matters in a region that has struggled to replace aging workforces and to pivot from traditional sectors toward a more diversified economic base. Registered apprenticeships and incumbent worker training can boost on the job skills, increase productivity and make local firms more competitive when bidding for projects or expanding operations.

Policy implications extend beyond immediate placements. By coordinating services through a business solutions consultant embedded in community action partners, the program seeks to align training with employer demand, improving the return on public workforce investments. If uptake in Perry County is strong, the initiative could help stabilize employment, support wages through better matched skills, and provide a model for regional labor market recovery. Employers interested in the program should contact their local Kentucky Career Center or visit the EKCEP website for enrollment details.