With Investments from USDA Rural Development and TVA, Fulton County Rural Partners Network Achieves Workforce Goal

Fulton County Fiscal Court announced Sept. 27, its Rural Partners Network has received two workforce development grants to expand career training opportunities for people detained in the Fulton County Detention Center. 

The Fulton County Fiscal Court will provide local matches to both grants. 

On Aug. 21, Dr. Tom Carew, Kentucky state director of U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, announced a $268,655 Rural Business Development Grant. This grant will renovate a former recycling facility in Hickman into the Fulton Academy for Construction Education. 

The academy will provide accredited training programs and will develop skills-based training for individuals housed at the Fulton County Detention Center. 

In September, Fulton-Hickman Counties Economic Development Partnership was notified that it will receive a $100,000 Workforce Invest Grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). 

With these funds, the Fulton County Detention Center is to become the newest NCCER-accredited in Kentucky. 

NCCER is a recognized standard for training, assessment, certification, and career development in the construction industry. 

"The Fulton County Detention Center exists not to just incarcerate individuals, but to provide rehabilitation opportunities so they can re-enter society as productive individuals with work skill credentials needed in the marketplace," said Jim Martin, Fulton County Judge Executive. 

“Our goal with this project has been to create a modern training space that provides the certifications so these individuals, upon release, can earn an income conducive to a desired quality of life. With funding for this project, we can do just that,"  Judge Martin said.

"I appreciate the Fulton County Detention Center, Fulton-Hickman Economic Development Partnership and Community Ventures working with the Rural Partners Network to make this possible. I also appreciate our funding partners USDA Rural Development and the Tennessee Valley Authority for their valued investments; AGC of Western Kentucky, National Center for Construction, and the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative (Fulton County Adult Education) for their commitment to train these individuals; and the West Kentucky Workforce Board for helping us to accomplish this project," he added. 

For more information about the Fulton Academy for Construction Education contact Jim Martin, Fulton County Judge/Executive.