Middlesboro, KY – Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) recently formed a new industry partnership, one that reaches consumers of all ages. The Smart Wood plant in Corbin, Kentucky, produces a basic summertime necessity: popsicle sticks.

Smart Wood is a family-owned company that was founded in 1928 in Saint Saveur, France. They are an international leader in the production of food grade wooden sticks for ice-cream, coffee stirrers, and skewers. After operating for nearly a century, the company has established nine plants and two distribution hubs, and their product is sold in over 50 countries.

Smart Wood opened their first and only U.S. plant in Corbin back in October 2017. They recognized that the area had a large population of Beech trees, which is a necessity for the company’s product. Immediately, SKCTC’s Workforce Solutions Department began working with company leaders to provide training specific to their needs, such as OSHA 10, OSHA 30, CPR, first aid, quality management 5S, electrical, fork lift, hydraulics, welding, and others.

According to Southeast President Vic Adams, who served as Vice President of Workforce Development for many years before leading the college, Southeast strives to deliver education to build skill sets for employees specific to the company partner. “We tailor our training according to the business’s needs,” said Dr. Adams. “Helping business and industry stay ahead of the curve is an important part of our mission at Southeast.”

Plant Manager Brent Wells agrees, “We started with ten employees at this location, and we have grown to over 90. Our relationship with Southeast has been integral in having a properly trained, skilled workforce.”

For more information about SKCTC’s Workforce Solutions, contact Sherri Clark at sherril.clark@kctcs.edu or 606-248-2224. For updates about programs or training, check out their Facebook page.