KY FAME Job Training Program Expanding

KY FAME (Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) is an apprentice-style training program for students at community colleges, started at Toyota in Georgetown in 2010.

The purpose of the program was for Toyota to help find more skilled workers.

Since then, the partnership has grown to 16 businesses in the Bluegrass.

Students spend two days in class each week and three days working at the business sponsoring them, allowing them to get hands-on training.

After five semesters, students will graduate with an associate degree, but with little to no school debt thanks to their paid time at work.

Once a student completes the program, they can accept a full-time job with their sponsor company or continue their education.

On Wednesday afternoon, Governor Steve Beshear announced the expansion of KY FAME to Louisville, Elizabethtown, and northern Kentucky.

So far, more than 40 students have graduated from the program, with another 60 now enrolled.