Southeast Kentucky Chamber Awards $12,400 in Education Grants

Floyd Central High School received $1,500. This program provides students with hands-on entrepreneurship experiences, including business planning, marketing, prototyping, and a school-wide showcase. Reusable materials will allow the program to continue annually, strengthening financial literacy, communication, teamwork, and career readiness.

Johnson Central Elementary School received $1,000. This project introduces 80 students to pottery by combining art, science, and design through hands-on ceramic creation. Students will build creativity, precision, and planning skills while benefiting from the therapeutic and stress-relieving aspects of artistic expression.

Johnson Central High School received $1,500. The grant supports the reestablishment of FBLA and a student-run school store, giving students real-world business and entrepreneurial experience. Funding will provide materials and resources that allow students to practice commerce, collaboration, and competition-ready business skills throughout the school year.

Northpoint Academy received $1,500. 3D printing capacity will be expanded introducing students to design, prototyping, and basic manufacturing. This technology will support hands-on learning aligned with workforce skills used in local industries such as engineering, healthcare, and construction.

Paintsville Elementary School received $1,500. Leaders on the Rise supports multiple student-led programs focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. Funding will provide materials and digital tools that allow students to manage real-world projects while benefiting the entire school through mentorship and collaboration.

Paintsville High School received $1,128.89. This grant provides a new sublimation printer and heat press, allowing students to design and produce custom apparel and spirit items. Students gain digital design and entrepreneurial skills while supporting school teams and clubs, with a self-sustaining model through low-cost materials and fundraising.

Pikeville Elementary School received $1,493.50. All kindergarten students will be introduced to early coding and computational thinking through hands-on learning connected to PBS’s Mia & Codie. Students will build sequencing, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, with outcomes showcased at a school STEAM Night.

Shelby Valley High School received $1,200. This project equips a classroom with an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and instructional software to enhance close-reading, annotation, and literary analysis. This technology will improve student engagement and comprehension while providing reusable instructional content for long-term use.

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber’s Excellence in Education Grant Program funds more than $10,000 in educational projects annually for schools in the Chamber’s eight-counties service area: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike. Grant applications open each October and are awarded in January. For more information about the Chamber’s Excellence in Education Grant program, visit the Chamber online at www.sekchamber.com/educationgrants or call 606.432.5504.

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is located at 178 College Street in Pikeville and serves more than 500 businesses in eight Eastern Kentucky Counties: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike. The Chamber’s mission is to serve the businesses of Southeastern Kentucky through a commitment to networking, advocacy, education, and collaboration as we partner together to enhance the business climate in our region.