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Kentucky is one of the top manufacturing states in the U.S.—and the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) is helping keep it that way (Spectrum News 1).

• The state has more than 6,000 manufacturing facilities that together employ more than 260,000 residents and contribute over $47 billion each year to the state’s GDP. 

What’s going on: KY FAME represents the Bluegrass State as part of the FAME USA network. FAME is the workforce initiative founded by Toyota and is today supported by the Manufacturing Institute, the 501(c)3 workforce development and education affiliate of the NAM. 

• FAME USA, which has eight chapters across Kentucky, develops highly skilled, professional manufacturing talent using a “dual-education apprenticeship style [that] means students earn a full-time salary while they learn, an Advanced Manufacturing Technician certificate and an associate’s degree in two years’ time.” 

Why it’s important: Kentucky, like the rest of the U.S., has long experienced a dearth of skilled manufacturing workers. KY FAME is helping build its own pool of talent with a dedicated and novel earn-while-you-learn model that is appealing to both students and manufacturers. 

• Program participants work three days a week, Gene Fife, program coordinator of the Greater Louisville Chapter of KY FAME, told Spectrum News 1. “They’re coming to school for two days a week. One that allows them to perhaps graduate debt-free, and they have some money in their pocket for a reward for their hard work.” 

Hopeful outlook: Manufacturing jobs in the state are still increasing due to advancements in technology and Kentucky’s growing industrial market. 

• “I believe manufacturing is never going to go away,” Fife said. “The advent in AI and a lot of other things have really helped, and with robotics and things like that, we are able to do things in manufacturing we weren’t able to do as little as five years ago. But you always need that person [who] can fix it when it breaks.” 

What participants say: “This program as a whole is phenomenal,” said Wyatt Drury, who is in his second year with the Greater Louisville Chapter of KY FAME, working as a maintenance technician at a local carbon steel pipe and tubing manufacturer. 

• “It’s helped me out tremendously, and even if my company doesn’t want to hire me, I have open opportunities to go anywhere.” 

The last word: “FAME is proof that when manufacturers take the lead in developing their own workforce, everyone benefits—students, companies and communities,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee “The Kentucky chapters continue to deliver the skilled talent our industry needs to keep growing and innovating.” 

Get involved: Interested in learning more about FAME USA? Go to fame-usa.com to learn more.