The West Kentucky Educational Cooperative (WKEC) has been awarded $1.9 million in funding by the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. The award was announced in Frankfort today during a special announcement event hosted by the authority, highlighting investments to strengthen Kentucky’s future nuclear energy workforce. This grant funding will support a regional initiative designed to prepare students in far West Kentucky for future careers in the growing nuclear energy sector.
The grant program, titled the WKEC Nuclear Energy Education & Workforce Plan (NEEW), will focus on developing a sustainable STEM-focused K-12 educational program that cultivates a highly skilled workforce pipeline for nuclear energy careers across rural and economically disadvantaged communities in far West Kentucky.
Participating districts include Ballard County Schools, Carlisle County Schools, Hickman County Schools, Fulton County Schools, Fulton Independent Schools, Mayfield Independent Schools, Graves County Schools, McCracken County Schools, Paducah Public Schools, Marshall County Schools, Murray Independent Schools, and Livingston County Schools.
Together, these districts serve more than 20,000 students and employ approximately 1,700 certified educators across 31 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, and 12 high schools.
WKEC leaders expressed appreciation to the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority and members of the Kentucky General Assembly for investing in education and workforce readiness in rural communities. The cooperative noted that West Kentucky has long been connected to the nation’s energy sector, and the emergence of advanced nuclear technologies presents an opportunity to build on that legacy while preparing the workforce of tomorrow.
The long-term goal of the program is to build a pipeline of students who are academically prepared to pursue postsecondary pathways and degrees aligned with Kentucky’s nuclear energy development, helping position West Kentucky as a key contributor to the industry’s future workforce.
WKEC will work with educators, community leaders, higher education institutions, and industry partners to implement the program and expand STEM learning, technical training, and workforce development opportunities across the region.News Article Link