A team of University of Kentucky horticulturalists is working with inmates at a Kentucky prison. Their grant-funded project seeks to help meet the need for greenhouse tech workers.
The $100,000 AgriProspect two-year grant will go to support additional training for a horticulture class at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women. Casey Byrd works in UK Horticulture Extension in controlled environment agriculture. Byrd said some of these women may pursue greenhouse tech jobs upon their release.
"The greenhouse industry desperately needs people that can repair, maintain, help build and construct greenhouses and also get in and look at irrigation issues, fan problems," said Byrd.
Byrd said the program could be replicated for high school or technical school students. She noted over a year's time, 40 different students at the Pee Wee Valley prison could participate in the project.
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