FRANKFORT, Ky. (WBKO) — Governor Matt Bevin attended a ceremony on Wednesday with President Trump at the White House celebrating the Pledge to America’s Workers.
Governor Bevin signed the pledge earlier this year in support of workforce development opportunities for Kentucky workers through apprenticeships, work-based learning programs, continuing education, on-the-job training, and re-skilling.
The pledge also recognizes Gov. Bevin’s commitment to improving the portability of workforce credentials across state lines and increased opportunities for S.T.E.M. education.
President Trump has encouraged private sector companies and governors across the country to sign the pledge.
In July, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the President’s National Council for the American Worker to develop a national workforce development strategy for America’s students and workers.
The event follows Ivanka Trump’s visit to Eastern Kentucky last week to tour three transformative workforce training programs in the state.
Ivanka Trump invited Kentuckians Buford Owens, an eKAMI instructor, and Alex Hughes, an Interapt Skills graduate, to attend the White House ceremony with Governor Bevin.
Owens is a former Eastern Kentucky underground coal miner who, after losing work at the age of 54, received certification in CNC machining from eKAMI. He now works as an instructor and trainer for the institute.
Hughes is a graduate of the Interapt Skills program, a workforce development program that teaches coding and application development skills.
Owens and Hughes had the opportunity to chat with President Trump during the event. President Trump heard the personal stories of both Owens and Hughes and discussed federal and state collaboration to further workforce development initiatives.
As of September 2018, Bevin says Kentucky’s workforce participation hit a record high with over 2 million Kentuckians working across the state.
To learn more about Kentucky’s workforce development initiatives, visit: https://educationcabinet.ky.gov/