Bel Brands USA has established a scholarship at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) for students from Grayson County.
Bel Brands USA has donated $50,000 to ECTC to establish the Bel Brands USA Endowed Scholarship Fund. The gift will help Grayson County residents obtain training in industrial maintenance through ECTC, building a stronger, more highly skilled workforce in the region, ECTC said.
“The Grayson County community has long been part of the fabric of Bel Brands USA. With the endowment, it is our intention the legacy of Bel continues to make a positive impact on the community, especially the scholarship recipients who are avidly pursuing their future goals towards securing professional success,” said Bel Brands USA Corporate Communications Representative Taryn Williams Clark.
On December 10, 2024, Bel Brands USA announced it would close its Leitchfield plant, which employed approximately 300 workers, in 2025 after over 50 years in the community. The company established the scholarship fund to honor employees and the community.
“We are grateful Bel Brands USA established this endowed scholarship, which will ensure continued growth and development in our region for years to come,” ECTC Leitchfield Campus Administrative Coordinator Cindy Carman said. “In partnership with businesses and organizations throughout Grayson County and the region, ECTC is committed to helping students develop the skills they need to earn higher wages, positively impacting our region.”
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System endowment match program will increase the power of the Bel Brands gift, ECTC said, ensuring more students overcome financial barriers and obtain a degree from ECTC.
To learn more about ECTC’s Industrial Maintenance program, visit ectc.us/industrial-maintenance. For more information on establishing a scholarship or endowment, contact Chrissie Angell at chrissie.angell@kctcs.edu or 270-706-8833.
