For more than 130 years, Carhartt has been committed to hardworking people and the communities in which they live, work and play. They have always been a strong advocate for the skilled trades and over the years have collaborated with numerous organizations to positively impact the next generation of workers.
One example here locally is the fact that the company has been and continues to be a long-time supporter of the Estill County School System, advocating for a variety of programs to benefit the students in the community. Most recently, the company signed on as supporting partner of the Estill County Area Technology Center (ATC), which is set to open in August 2021. The ATC will offer support and education opportunities in advanced manufacturing, construction technology, engineering (STEM), health sciences, information technology and more.
As part of its relationship with the ATC, Carhartt has committed $100,000 in funding ($25,000 annually), as well as giving interested students an interview upon completion of the program. In addition, the company is donating machinery for the students to learn and work on, as well as offering up a variety of Carhartt associates as guest speakers to offer real-life learning experiences.
For William Hardy, Senior Vice President of Carhartt and a lifetime Estill County resident, this project was especially meaningful. “We’re honored to help residents in our community with a career path that provides them with opportunities to work for a global company like Carhartt,” said Hardy. “Approximately 90 years ago, this community came together to help build Carhartt in Irvine, it’s now our turn to give back to them.”
Carhartt hopes that the formation of the ATC will help fuel the next generation of associates, and ultimately allow the company to increase production using highly trained applicants from the program. Beyond that, the company understands that the skills these students gain can be used across various businesses in Estill County or other neighboring communities.
The company has long been focused on closing the skilled trades gap in Kentucky and around the country. Hardy added, “As the industry leader in workwear, Carhartt feels an obligation to help hardworking people find a rewarding path into the skilled trades and we truly believe the ATC will make it easier for our residents to receive the training they need to secure meaningful careers.”