KCKCC Showcases National Model for Powering the EV Workforce

Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) took center stage Jan. 20 as it hosted the Powering the EV Workforce: Apprenticeships & Pathways site visit at KCKCC-TEC, welcoming leaders from Panasonic North America, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Advance CTE, and other local, state and national partners.

The visit highlighted KCKCC’s innovative training model that supports registered apprenticeships in the electric vehicle (EV) and advanced manufacturing sectors—work that is part of AACC’s U.S. Department of Labor–funded initiative to strengthen and expand apprenticeships nationwide. Insights from the visit will be featured in a final report shared through AACC and Advance CTE’s national networks.

“The times and needs have changed,” said KCKCC President Dr. Greg Mosier. “Higher education must be adaptable. We can’t be reactive—we must be proactive. Developing strong partnerships with Panasonic and other corporate partners is critical.”

KCKCC is one of only five community colleges nationwide selected by AACC to be highlighted on its EV Hub, a distinction that underscores the college’s leadership in workforce alignment. Through an $8 million Apprenticeship Building America grant awarded to AACC in 2023, KCKCC received $200,000 to develop its Operator Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) supporting Panasonic’s new Electric Vehicle Battery Facility in DeSoto, Kan.

The 16-credit-hour certificate program connects directly to the Automation Engineer Technology Associate of Applied Science degree and accelerates skills needed for Panasonic’s Skill Machine Technician I role. To date, more than 120 students have been served through the program.

During the visit, partners also explored ways to expand registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities, while strengthening alignment across K-12, postsecondary education, and the workforce to support long-term growth in EV and advanced manufacturing.

“As more people move to the Midwest, more companies are coming to the heartland,” Mosier said. “Demand is only going to increase. There are about 6,000 open jobs in Wyandotte County on any given day. The opportunities for growth in this sector are incredible.”

Jennifer Worth, AACC senior vice president for academic and workforce development, praised KCKCC’s approach.

“What you are doing here is vastly unique,” she said. “You don’t just teach workplace learning—you show students how it’s applied. You’re preparing students for real-world success in an industry-relevant space.”

For KCKCC, that relevance is rooted in partnership.

“Higher education is a business, and we have to work like one,” Mosier said. “Building strong partnerships are critical. Great partnerships help us to provide training, which gets people into the workforce while making sure that it is sustainable for the college as well.”