ONE EAST KENTUCKY OFFICE OPENS ON BSCTC PRESTONSBURG CAMPUS

A new non-profit organization tasked with recruiting new industry jobs and investment to the region has opened an office on the Prestonsburg campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC).

One East Kentucky is a privately funded partnership of local governments, chambers of commerce, industrial authorities, area development districts and private industry in Floyd, Knott, Johnson, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Perry and Pike counties.

Chuck Sexton, CEO of One East Kentucky, said few things are more important than workforce training and education when recruiting business and industry.

For One East Kentucky to have a great partner in Big Sandy Community and Technical College, as well as be located on campus, is a tremendous advantage in our efforts, he said. The facilities, programs and faculty are second to none in my opinion and I look forward to working with them over the coming years.

Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of BSCTC, said the regional approach fostered by One East Kentucky is essential in bringing new business and industry to the region.

We need to have a mechanism such as One East Kentucky to work and speak for us in a unified voice, said Dr. Stephenson. Their presence on our campus will allow us to work closely to align programs and curriculum to the needs of business and industry.

Sexton said Dr. Stephenson is an asset to the college and the region.

His experience and passion for connecting higher education with industry will greatly increase our ability to bring new investment to the local economy, said Sexton. One East Kentucky is now perfectly centered in the region that we serve thanks to his leadership.