SCC Links Local Workers to High‑Paying Regional Jobs

Published on Apr 21, 2026

Somerset Community College Workforce Solutions is partnering with Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) and its Eastern Kentucky Talent Network to connect local residents to high‑demand career opportunities through a regional hiring event scheduled for Tuesday, April 28.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ashland Community and Technical College Technology Drive Campus in Grayson. While the event is being held in Northeast Kentucky, virtual interview opportunities will be available for qualified candidates across the Somerset Community College service area and throughout Appalachian Kentucky.

According to college officials, the virtual option is intended to ensure that residents of Pulaski County and surrounding counties can participate without having to travel long distances. The hiring event will focus on positions in energy, manufacturing, and skilled trades, including opportunities with WECTEC Staffing Services LLC, a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC.

Many of the featured positions are connected to nuclear outage work, which involves scheduled maintenance and repair projects at power plants across the country. These jobs typically require workers to travel for set periods of time, but allow them to return home between assignments.

College representatives say this employment model has already proven successful for Eastern Kentucky workers. More than 40 Kentuckians from the region are currently employed in nuclear outage roles nationwide, earning competitive wages and bringing that income back to their home communities.

In addition to outage work, the hiring event is expected to be relevant for individuals with experience or transferable skills in manufacturing, mechanical and electrical trades, energy industries, and field service or industrial technician roles.

Job seekers are encouraged to register ahead of time through SOAR’s Eastern Kentucky Talent Network. The process includes completing an online form, uploading a résumé, and participating in a one‑on‑one assessment with a Talent Network team member. Candidates who meet employer qualifications may be scheduled for interviews in advance of the event.

Walk‑in attendees will be permitted on the day of the event, though interviews are not guaranteed without completing the assessment process beforehand.

Officials with Somerset Community College Workforce Solutions said the partnership reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to helping residents access meaningful career opportunities that support local families and the regional economy.

Residents interested in participating are encouraged to begin the assessment process as soon as possible. Virtual interviews will allow Somerset‑area job seekers to take advantage of this opportunity regardless of distance.

SCC Vice President of Workforce Solutions, Alesa Johnson, shared her thoughts on this newest opportunity.

"Our partnership with SOAR and the EKY Talent Network is about opening real doors for our community. It’s exciting to see a regional effort create meaningful pathways right here for our workforce—connecting talent from Somerset and across Eastern Kentucky to careers that can truly change lives," Johnson said. "Opportunities like this remind us what’s possible when we work together with purpose."

Additional information and registration details are available through the SOAR Eastern Kentucky Talent Network website, or visit the Eastern Kentucky Hiring Event page.