Where the jobs are — and aren't

Senate votes out tech center

Legislators struggle with last-minute budget

School Counts! to reward students

The News-Enterprise
March 28, 2004

Where the jobs are — and aren't

A statewide employment forecast for the eight-county Lincoln Trail district suggests few bright spots in the job market's murky future.

Hardin County's work force, still licking the wounds inflicted by manufacturing layoffs last year, hasn't a clear job source strong enough to replace those living wages.

Though the number of people in Hardin County possessing post-secondary education has reached an all-time high, jobs in the area that require higher education — and pay accordingly — remain scarce.

According to "Kentucky Occupational Outlook to 2010," a report prepared by Kentucky's Department for Employment Services, just three of the 45 occupations expected to have the highest number of job openings in the Lincoln Trail district through 2010 require post-secondary education. Those occupations are registered nurses, certain teachers and general and operations managers.

Economic development groups believe the future will demand an educated work force, but Hardin County currently lacks opportunities for educated workers.

Sherry Johnson, associate director for employment training at the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, said building a more educated work force could lead to job creation.

"I think we have a good work force, but a better-trained work force could help recruit (new employers to the area)," Johnson said.

Some also believe an educated work force will grow its own jobs.

Lisa Williams, director of Elizabethtown's Innovation Center, said the center aims to equip inventors with the resources they need to start their own businesses and, ultimately, stimulate job growth.

Help wanted

Based on the KDES predictions, the Lincoln Trail district — made up of Hardin, Meade, Breckinridge, LaRue, Nelson, Grayson, Marion and Washington counties — will produce 1,978 new jobs each year. More jobs will be left open due to turnover — retirements or moves to new jobs — bringing the total num-ber of open jobs to 4,111 annually.

Most of those will come in sales, production and office and administrative support.

Cashiers are expected to be the single largest position in demand from employees. That occupation is expected to grow by 103 jobs annually — more than any other occupation. Including the expected growth and vacated existing positions, the area will need 233 new cashiers each year, the report predicts.

Barbara Cone, spokeswoman for Chick-fil-A in Elizabethtown, said the restaurant, which opens Wednesday, planned to hire about 75 employees. Many of those will man the cash registers.

More than 500 people applied for jobs at Chick-fil-A, making it easy to fill those positions, Cone said. Many were attracted to the store because it is closed Sundays.

After cashiers, childcare workers will be most needed. Seventy-seven new jobs will be created and another 94 will be turned over each year in the Lincoln Trail district.

The most available jobs are at the low end of the pay scale. In 2003, cashiers in Kentucky earned an average of $7.50 an hour. Childcare workers earned $6.84. Jobs in retail sales, also expected to grow, paid an average hourly wage of $8.31.

Jobs that require short-term, on-the-job training are expected to account for more than one-third of all of Kentucky's job growth through 2010, according to the KDES outlook.

Tommy Wheatley, work force dev-elopment manager at the Lincoln Trail Career Center, said certain higher paying jobs are in demand.

"Health-related fields are always good fields to be in," he said, noting the demand for services an aging population will create.

More workers will be needed in many medical fields, especially nursing.

Mary Jo King, spokeswoman for Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, said the demand for nurses is so great that students who graduate from ECTC's nursing programs could have a job lined up and a signing bonus in the bank before graduation.

Wheatley also predicted job opportunities in information technology will continue to grow.

Jobs wanted

Economic and work force development professionals agree the area needs more jobs for educated workers.

"We need opportunities for the young people who go away to college and never come back," Williams said.

Buddy Steen, executive director of the Central Region Innovation and Commercialization Center in Bowling Green, said educated workers need a reason to stay in the area. The center is part of the same network as the Elizabethtown Innovation Center, which strives to create growth in science and technology fields.

Williams said she thinks Hardin County has the potential to nurture new businesses that would keep talented workers here.

One of the Innovation Center's first tasks was assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the area. Some of Hardin County's strengths were its crossroads status — Interstate 65, the Western Kentucky Parkway and the Bluegrass Parkway intersect in Elizabethtown — the resources of ECTC and Fort Knox's potential to be a customer to local businesses.

Paul Coomes, an economist with the University of Louisville, called the talent pool filled by retired military personnel living in Hardin County and available green space assets to the area, as well. "You've got to leverage whatever assets you have," he said.

"There are some things that are out of the equation for Hardin County," he said, giving a major air-port and state university as examples.

Edith Dupin, director of the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Chamber of Commerce and chairwoman of the Lincoln Trail Area Work force Investment Board, said building a well-trained work force is the first step in developing new quality jobs.

"We feel that work force development is economic development," Dupin said. "We have to create an atmosphere and work force for new business."

New and expanding businesses are attracted to areas with well-trained work forces, Dupin said.

Back to school

Overall, Kentucky's work force is moving forward. The number of Kentuckians with post-secondary schooling is growing, and Hardin County is no exception.

According to 2000 census data, about 23 percent of Hardin Countians age 25 and older hold an associate's, bachelor's or master's degree, up from about 19 percent in 1990. Another 25 percent have some college education but have not earned a degree, up from about 21 percent in 1990.

Typically, earnings increase and unemployment rates decrease with each level of education, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At ECTC, students who graduate from the technical programs have few problems finding work, King said. Several programs, including auto diesel technology, major appliance technology, practical nursing and radiography, boast 100 percent job placement for graduates.

The college doesn't track where its graduates put their degrees to work, but King said a high number of graduates are likely to be work-ing in the college's service area. The service area includes 12 counties, but excludes Jefferson County.

Last May, a record 497 students graduated from Elizabethtown Community College and Elizabethtown Technical College.

Throughout Kentucky, jobs requiring associate's degrees are growing faster than those in any other education category. By 2010, the number of such jobs will rise by about 35 percent. Half of those, however, will go to registered nurses.

As technology progresses, educated workers will fill more jobs.

Gary Koffman, the Elizabethtown site manager for Dow Corning, said his company requires employees to have related experience or some college education, especially science courses.

Manufacturing shops are automating more processes, Koffman said, and educated employees are better equipped to understand and adapt to the new methods.

"It does give us a competitive edge," Koffman said.

He said he believes education will play a larger role in manufacturing. For example, the company recently promoted an employee with training education to a newly developed position. That employee will assess the skills of the 210-member staff and create new training programs that will keep the skills of the company's workers on pace with the rest of the industry, Koffman said.

Economic leaders said building jobs will require a balanced approach. Diversification will nuture long-term stability, said Jo Emary, executive director of the Radcliff-Hardin County Chamber of Commerce.

"One thing is not going to save you. You have to look at all the possiblilities and you have to look at them realistically," Emary said.

Henderson Gleaner
March 30, 2004

Senate votes out tech center

The Kentucky Senate voted 22-16 Monday to delete funding for a new Tri-County Technology Center at Henderson Community College.

But that doesn't necessarily mean the $13 million center is lost in the current legislative session according to Susan Strawb, spokeswoman for Senate Democrats such as Sen. Paul Herron, D-Henderson.

"It ain't over 'til it's over," she said, noting that the General Assembly will reconvene April 12 and 13. "What isn't in there today may not be how it winds up," because the final budget will probably be hammered out in a conference committee of Senate and House members.

"Our technology center just got voted out 22 to 16," Judge-executive Sandy Watkins said Monday evening. He had just fielded a telephone call from Richard Tanner, executive director of the Kentucky Magistrates Association, who was watching the vote live on Frankfort television.

"They're pretty well holding everybody hostage if everybody doesn't do what the governor wants," Watkins said. "It's really kind of crazy. Every project in there from a Democratic county is coming out. They're going in project by project and voting them out. They're saying either you vote for the governor's tax plan or else. They're playing some very partisan politics on this."

Once the building projects were removed from the Senate version of the budget, Watkins said, the Senate started removing items such as water line projects.

"I had $1.3 million for water lines in Henderson County," Watkins said. That funding from coal severance taxes was placed in the budget by state Rep. Gross Lindsay, he said.

"They're fighting about the budget," said Lindsay. "Everybody's contentious."

The Independent
March 30, 2004

Legislators struggle with last-minute budget
Controversial plan passes Senate, fails in House

Local legislators were taking a brief break late Monday afternoon, getting ready for the push of the last six hours of the 2004 General Assembly.

With time running out, Democrats found a budget proposal with Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher's tax modernization plan included suddenly on the table.

The budget also carried amendments that would delete funding for several projects if the governor's plan were not approved.

On that list was $13 million for a new technology center at EastPark. The fate of the that project was unclear as of press time.

Other items on the list included appropriations for technical centers in Henderson and Owensboro; school renovations in Perry and Leslie counties; science centers at Morehead State and Murray State universities; an agricultural lab at Hopkinsville; renovation of a dormitory at Kentucky State University in Frankfort; and a coalbed-methane research lab at Madisonville. Those cuts passed along party lines in the Senate, 22-16.

Many Democrats viewed the amendments as an effort to strong-arm the legislature into passing the budget.

But Sen. Walter Blevins, D-Sandy Hook, said he doesn't believe his party will be intimidated.

"Right now, we just don't think it's a good tax plan," Blevins said. "We've been shut out of the debates, and now, at the 11th hour, they (Republicans) bring a budget with this tax plan on it and they expect us to vote on it. I don't think that's a wise thing to do."

Blevins and his fellow Democrats in the Senate abstained from voting on the budget late Monday. All 22 Senate Republicans voted in favor of the budget.

Blevins said he believed Republicans were "trying to extort votes" by threatening to remove funding for projects.

But Sen. Charlie Borders, R-Grayson, said he believes the budget being presented was a solid financial plan, and predicted it would pass before midnight Monday.

"I think the view of the budget depends on who you ask," Borders said. "There are all kinds of good things in this budget."

The budget bill originated in the House and had to go back there for a vote on whether to go along with the Senate amendments. The House refused to do so late Monday by a vote of 58-38, meaning that House and Senate conferees would ultimately have to negotiate an alternative version.

Fletcher's tax plan would raise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, as well as create a tax on satellite television service, while reducing individual and corporate income taxes.

Rep. John Vincent, R-Ashland, said the tax plan could be necessary in order to fund all of the projects that would be cut without it.

"I think there wasn't money to pay for everything," Vincent said. "If tax modernization is generating revenue in the second year, then the money is there for those projects. That was the thinking behind that, I believe."

Vincent and other local members of the House were trying to keep up with the Senate's budget changes over the course of the day so they could be prepared for the inevitable debate that many said was sure to last until midnight.

Late Monday afternoon Vincent said it was "too early" to tell what would happen before the session expired.

"I think we will certainly vote to concur or not to concur on the changes made by the Senate," Vincent said. "If we vote to concur, then we could vote on the budget itself. If not, this will all go to the conference committee."

Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, said she was trying to keep up with the highlights of the Senate's plan, but was unsure whether it could all be digested and debated by the end of the session.

While some issues of the budget remain unknown, one major change the Senate has proposed is bringing in a private contractor to run the Elliott County prison.

The 894-bed facility was built with $90 million in state money, and is expected to be a major source of jobs in an economically-deprived region. But Fletcher's administration had hinted at delaying the prison's opening, then began discussing privatization.

The House version of the budget, passed March 9, included funds for the state to operate the facility, and contained language prohibiting privatization.

Republicans, including Borders, have said bringing in a private contractor would save the state money while still providing jobs.

But local Democrats aren't buying that argument, saying privatization would lead to lower wages for employees.

"That's a major sticking point with me," said Webb. "I'm not comfortable with that at all."

Blevins said he believes the Fletcher administration wants to privatize the prison as a way to compensate campaign supporters.

"A lot of money came into the Republican party and Governor Fletcher's campaign from private corrections operations, and I think they want to pay them back," he said.

With the facility already built, a private company has only to move in and begin collecting money from the state to house its prisoners, Blevins said.

"A private company is going to make a fortune at the expense of the state," he said. "I'm hoping the House will fight this to the hilt."

Whatever happens, it's clear the 2004 session has come down to the wire. Local legislators say they wouldn't expect anything less.

"It's a typical end to the session," Vincent said. "I don't know if anyone ever says it's the easiest thing to do, but most of us are used to it by now."

Evansville Courier & Press
March 29, 2004

School Counts! to reward students

The first of its type in Kentucky, the program will reward high school graduates with money and job interviews if they go to class, work hard and make moderately good grades.

Called School Counts!, the program is modeled after one launched in 1999 by the National Alliance of Business in New Jersey.

It will give qualifying students ineligible for other academic aid a $1,000 scholarship for up to four semesters to attend Madisonville Community College. Business and industry will guarantee students who successfully complete the School Counts! requirements a job interview upon graduation. They won't be guaranteed a job, but will be assured of getting a foot in the door with potential employers.

By the time the first eligible students graduate in 2008, the community hopes to fund the scholarships with an endowment of at least $2 million. The Madisonville Rotary Club recently pledged $100,000 toward that goal, and MCC President Judy Rhoads said the program has in hand an additional $100,000 from an anonymous donor.

Current eighth-grade students who want to earn a School Counts! certificate upon high school graduation will be able to sign up during pre-registration sessions this week at Hopkins County's two high schools and at Dawson Springs Independent.

Students enrolled in the program must: Maintain a 2.5 annual grade point average on a 4.0 grading scale.
Have a 95 percent attendance and punctuality record. Complete high school in eight consecutive semesters. Take more than the minimum number of credits required for graduation.

The Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce has taken on the task of recruiting area businesses and industry to participate in the program. Rhoads said they hope to have at least 300 employers sign on.

It will give employers a new credential by which to evaluate applicants, she said. Currently, all they have is a diploma. The School Counts! program is designed to make students aware of the demands of the workplace and that performance in school is a factor that can predict how well a person will perform on the job.

Employers, the MCC president said, care more about attendance and punctuality than students often think.

The program is directed toward students in the middle of class rankings whose grades don't usually qualify them for academic scholarships and who often don't qualify for other types of financial aid to attend school.

"There's a whole group," Rhoads said, "that don't get anything. Their parents didn't go to college, and they see no hope of going to college."

"I hope this will change the way people view education in our area," she added, explaining the program has a goal of getting two-thirds of high school graduates to attend college.

Calculations show the program could award up to $90,000 in scholarships its first year and $150,000 its second. Organizers hope to raise enough money for the endowment so that it becomes self-supporting, awarding the grants solely from interest income.

Currently restricted to Hopkins County students, Rhoads said she is hopeful the concept can be expanded to include other counties in the college's service area. A fund-raising drive is already under way in neighboring Crittenden County, where MCC offers local instruction, she said.