By Mark Maynard
Kentucky Today
MOREHEAD, Ky. (KT) – Ivanka Trump came away “illuminated’’ with what’s happening in eastern Kentucky after a Friday tour of workforce development programs.
She called it an “inspiring,’’ giving plenty of credit to Gov. Matt Bevin, who she said was a “champion of workforce development.” Bevin escorted Trump and her team to three different sites beginning early Friday morning and finishing in the afternoon at the Morehead State University Space Science Center.
Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump and an adviser to the White House, was particularly wowed on the tour of Morehead’s cutting-edge aerospace program, one of only five in the country.
“Ending my day here has been particularly special because, A, I’m obsessed with space. The whole administration loves space. We’re behind space exploration in a very major way.”
Gov. Bevin and Ivanka Trump (Kentucky Today/Juliana Leach photo)
Earlier on Friday, she stopped at an advanced manufacturing training center in Paintsville and the Big Sandy Community and Technical College in Prestonsburg before coming to Morehead.
“This has been an illuminating day, to say the least,” she said. “We’ve traveled across eastern Kentucky and been awed by the unbelievable beauty of the state but also deeply inspired by the stories I’ve heard.”
Trump praised the workforce development sites that exist in eastern Kentucky and throughout the country that have been encouraged because of deregulation and tax cuts.
“A climate of optimism has taken hold in our country because of the President’s leadership and working with members of Congress,” she said. “It’s been amazing to see so many different examples of the type of growth that can happen when an economy is strong.”
Eastern Kentucky has been an example of that optimism despite still having some of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Workforces on the horizon have given parts of eastern Kentucky hope for the future.
Northeastern Kentucky has been infused with excitement with Braidy Industries and the aluminum rolling mill planned to open in 2020. Braidy Industries CEO Craig Bouchard and his daughter, Braidy, were among the guests at the aerospace center.
“This is Trump Country and having the President’s daughter Ivanka, who is one of the classiest and best human beings ever, come here to Morehead, what an honor,” Bouchard said. “It’s just an indication of how great this area is that we would attract someone like Ivanka Trump here.”
“This is a wonderful and hospitable climate for business,” Trump said.
