Kenton County high school students heading to the Enzweiler Building Institute for skilled trades training next school year will work with safer, newer equipment after the institute landed a $20,000 grant to overhaul its tool inventory.
The Ohio Valley Foundation, administered through Fifth Third Bank, awarded the money to EBI's Critical Tool Replacement Program, the institute announced July 25. The grant covers roughly 75% of the cost of replacing tools and machinery that are no longer safe or serviceable, plus 50% of the cost of building new tool carts to improve organization and accessibility in the training labs.
"This grant helps ensure our students have access to the tools and equipment they need to develop the skills employers are seeking in today's workforce," Brian Miller, EBI president and executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky, said in the announcement.
Who benefits
EBI serves about 400 students a year across eight programs: electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, masonry, welding, facilities maintenance, and diesel mechanics. The institute reports an 89% job placement rate, according to its website.
For Kenton County families, the most direct connection is EBI's Introduction to Skilled Construction Trades program. Kenton County School District students attend the program during the school day, four days a week, learning basics of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and welding. Students who complete the program earn OSHA-10 certification, first-aid/CPR certification, and the Home Builders Institute's Pre-Apprenticeship Certification Training. They also receive dual credit and priority acceptance into EBI's adult programs after graduation.
The Kenton County Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday, April 7 to renew its memorandum of understanding with EBI for the 2026-27 school year. Board members Karen Collins, Jesica Jehn, Erin McConnell, and Brian Remole voted yes; Shannon Herold was absent. The board approved the same partnership for 2025-26 the previous April.
A growing pipeline
Kenton County's investment in trades education extends beyond high school. On Monday, March 2, the board also approved a separate MOU with TradesNKY to create a middle school skilled trades course for 2026-27, building a pathway that starts before students reach ninth grade.
EBI partners with Boone County Schools, Ludlow Independent Schools, Covington Catholic, and Dayton in addition to Kenton County. Through the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky, graduates have access to a network of more than 700 employers.
The institute, founded in 1967, is the longest-running post-secondary trades training school under the National Association of Home Builders and operates as a registered apprenticeship program recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Kenton County students interested in the Introduction to Skilled Trades program for 2026-27 should contact their high school counselor to enroll.
