Our thanks to everyone who attended our September Facility Managers Meeting at our Elizabethtown headquarters. During the meeting, EHCIF President Andy Games discussed upcoming plans and initiatives for October, which is designated as Manufacturing Month, including EHCIF’s annual partnership with area school districts and manufacturing employers.

As part of this partnership, students will have the chance to engage directly with the manufacturing sector through school visits and facility tours. Now in its third year, the initiative includes two tailored programs: middle school students will take part in on-campus manufacturing simulations led by local employers, while high school students will visit area facilities to experience manufacturing firsthand.

Games also took the opportunity to remind attendees about Sustainability Swap, a free interactive transaction portal designed to reduce industrial waste in local landfills while boosting efficiency and lowering costs across the regional industrial sector. Through the platform, businesses can post unwanted materials with descriptions and photos, along with contact information. Other users can then browse listings by category or search for specific items they need. To learn more, visit sustainabilityswap.eifky.org. 

Keeping with the theme of Manufacturing Month, Games also promoted the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming Manufacturing Expo, set for Oct. 8 at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown. Set for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the event will give attendees the chance to connect with leading employers, explore career pathways and experience firsthand the strength of our regional manufacturing sector. Those interested in attending or setting up during the expo can visit hardinchamber.com. 

Robin Gooden and Amanda Dixon with the Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail (KCC-LT) also shared details about upcoming Manufacturing Month events. KCC-LT will host two in-person job fairs: Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to noon at American Legion Post 113 in Elizabethtown, and Thursday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bardstown Civic Center. These events will connect jobseekers with employers hiring for a wide range of positions, including roles in human resources, maintenance, janitorial services and more.

In addition, KCC-LT will offer virtual opportunities through its Let’s Talk Tuesdays series. On Oct. 7 and Oct. 21, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., jobseekers can participate in online job fairs powered by the Premier Virtual platform, where they can submit résumés and engage with employers through chat and video conferencing features.

To learn more about KCC-LT job fair events, visit ltcareercenter.org. 

In addition, the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs and Team Kentucky will also host a statewide online job fair through Premier Virtual on Monday, Oct. 15. Event hours are 10 to 11 a.m. for veterans and family members only and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for all job candidates. To learn more, visit kyworks.ky.gov/Career-Interests/Pages/Career-Opportunities.aspx.  

The meeting also featured remarks from Michael Mabry of Akebono in Elizabethtown, who provided details about an upcoming job fair to support Akebono employees as the company prepares to close its Elizabethtown facility after nearly four decades of operation in the TJ Patterson Industrial Park. The company made the announcement in 2023. According to Mabry, 180 associates will be laid off in December, with additional layoffs continuing through 2026 and full closure anticipated by the end of that year.

The job fair is scheduled for Nov. 19 at Akebono, 300 Ring Road in Elizabethtown. Employers are encouraged to participate and connect directly with employees through personal, face-to-face interaction. Businesses interested in setting up at the job fair can contact Mabry at michael.mabry@akebono-usa.com or 502-435-0670. 

Due to plans for Manufacturing Month, no Facility Managers Meeting will be held in October. Monthly meetings are set to resume in January. For more information, or if interested in attending the next meeting, please contact the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation at 270-737-0300.