Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) is pleased to announce that the Digital Careers NOW Hub located on the Cumberland Campus held its ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on October 23 in the Godbey Appalachian Center gallery.

President Vic Adams spoke, followed by special guests Senator Brandon Smith and Representative Chris Fugate. Other guests included representatives of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), Shaping our Appalachian Region (SOAR), and the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP). Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, guests and the public were welcome to tour the Hub.

Digital Careers NOW (DCN) is the result of a collaborative, regional initiative. SKCTC has partnered with Big Sandy and Hazard Community & Technical Colleges, along with SOAR and the EKCEP, in order to build an employer-driven digital economy curriculum. All three institutions have developed digital innovation hubs on their respective campuses to promote telework and entrepreneurial opportunities.

According to Dr. Adams, “The project specifically targets dislocated workers from the coal industry. It develops short-term training programs focused on available jobs and puts people back to work quickly.”

Just recently, General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) held a job fair on the Harlan Campus resulting in an additional 24 job offers to potential applicants. The Digital Careers Now hub, housed on the Cumberland Campus, will employ a total of 40-50 individuals and two supervisors. These positions pay $11.32 per hour and come with an excellent benefit package, including a $7,500 tuition reimbursement.

“Southeast is a beacon of hope for our communities,” says Adams, “and we are excited about the training and job opportunities Digital Careers NOW will offer the people of our region.”