West Kentucky Community & Technical College

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WKCTC MAKES SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT TO PADUCAH AREA CHAMBER

Paducah, KY (05/13/2021) — West Kentucky Community and Technical College will contribute more than $18,700 to efforts of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce as part of its WKCTC Guarantee initiative, officials announced today.

WKCTC President Anton Reece, who also is chair of the chamber's board of directors, said funds are part of the WKCTC Guarantee and would be used to assist with minority memberships, leadership and involvement in chamber activities and initiatives. The WKCTC Guarantee seeks to further the vision of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, benefactor of a historic $15 million gift to the college, expanding opportunities for those who have traditionally faced barriers to education and workforce training.

Reece said WKCTC's Workforce Solutions will utilize a portion of the gift to sponsor the following:

Minority chamber membership - 10 businesses @ $500 per business for a total of $5,000

Existing minority business mentor - 10 businesses @ $100 per business for a total of $1,000

Leadership Paducah sponsorship - 1 per year up to $1,500 for three years for a total of $4,500

Washington DC Fly-In sponsorship - 1 per year up to $2,000 for three years for a total of $6,000

Small Business Mastermind Cohort Scholarships - 3 @ $750 for a total $2,250

The support totals $18,750.

Chamber President Sandra Wilson was pleasantly surprised by Thursday's announcement.

"We work very closely with WKCTC now, but this just helps us as a chamber to be able to expand our program in the community with the goal set by this award that the college received," Wilson said after the announcement. "We will be very intentional and focused on making sure that these minority memberships are used and that we recruit someone for Leadership Paducah."

Wilson added she was excited by the Washington D.C. Fly-in sponsorship. "We're thrilled to take someone with us to Washington D.C., perhaps someone who has not been with us before, and who would not have the opportunity to go without this scholarship," she said. "We're working really hard on the small business cohort, and to try to help small business owners maybe take a step away from the business to learn more about growing their business, and this scholarship offered through this will help those business owners."

In December 2020, WKCTC received a $15 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, with a focus on enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the college and in area communities. Through specific initiatives and supports structured as The WKCTC Guarantee: Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the college is working to increase educational opportunities for diverse populations, low-income individuals and others who have faced barriers to education, and to enhance collaborations with community organizations who serve vulnerable populations.

The support to the chamber is part of Sector 4 in the seven-sector framework of the WKCTC Guarantee, which focuses on workforce training and job readiness.

"Trying to prepare unemployed and underemployed individuals in our community for new or better employment through workforce training and participation in business networking and education-focused organizations is vital to our region," Dr. Reece said. "Promoting lifelong learning, skills enhancement, and expanded business relationships, with a focus on serving underrepresented minority populations is not only good for those populations but for our community as a whole."

The college recently awarded $27,500 in direct support to 15 area organizations and provided more than 120 scholarships, or $64,500 worth of scholarships, through its Sector 2 of the WKCTC Guarantee, which focuses on community service organizations.

For more information about the WKCTC Guarantee please visit https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu/about/wkctc-guarantee/

Media Attachments

WKCTC President Anton Reece presents a ceremonial check for $18,750 to the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce president Sandra Wilson during the Chamber's Power in Partnership Breakfast May 13, 2021. Kevin O'Neil, WKCTC vice president of regional workforce training and economic development, looks on. in the back right.

Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce president holds onto WKCTC President Anton Reece as he announced a surprise $18,750 in support of the chamber.

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