North Kentucky News

Posing with the Kentucky Heritage Council’s award in Frankfort are, from left, Brian Miller, President of the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades/Executive Vice President of the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky; Diane McConnell, Director of Workforce Development with the Enzweiler Building Institute; Kaitlin Bryan, the City of Covington’s Regulatory Services Manager & Historic Preservation Specialist; Mayor Joe Meyer, and City Commissioner Steve Hayden.

Ky. Heritage Council salutes Covington-based program

COVINGTON, Ky. – For the second time in less than two weeks, the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades has been recognized by experts in historic preservation.

On Thursday, the Kentucky Heritage Council presented the Academy with a Service to Preservation 2024 award as part of the annual Ida Lee Willis Memorial Awards. The awards recognize individuals, organizations, nonprofits, public officials, financial institutions, news media, volunteers, and others whose contributions have positively impacted preserving historic and prehistoric resources.

The award – presented in Frankfort on May 22 at the old state capitol building – came less than two weeks after the Academy was honored by the Cincinnati Preservation Association.

“We are so honored to see this program flourish and receive recognition locally and at the state level,” said Kaitlin Bryan, the City of Covington’s Regulatory Services Manager & Historic Preservation Specialist. “It’s giving us validation that we are on the right track toward building a sustainable program.”

The Academy is designed to teach people how to work on historic buildings.

The City partnered with the Enzweiler Building Institute to create a two-dimensional experience that combines classroom work at the Institute’s construction trades school in Latonia with hands-on learning in a “living laboratory” – a dilapidated City-owned structure at 1515 Madison Ave., which dates to the 1880s and boasts an infamous history as the Colonial Inn motel.

Bryan said the Academy is currently in its third semester with a curriculum focused on exterior carpentry. Previous semesters focused on interior plaster and building sciences/assessment.

About The Academy

The Covington Academy of Heritage Trades (CAHT) is a workshop-based program that teaches skills and knowledge needed to restore older homes and buildings. Students learn to preserve original features while modernizing functionality.

Students work alongside skilled craftspeople who have dedicated their careers to mastering their trade. Through hands-on application in real properties, students gain practical experience that can translate into meaningful careers in historic restoration.

Among its goals:

- Create a talent pipeline of skilled tradespeople.

- Revive techniques for working on pieces of historic buildings.

- Facilitate preservation and restoration of architecturally significant structures.

- Inspire small business start-ups.

- Increase household income for Covington families.

As outlined in a 2022 news release titled "Restoration trades school coming soon," the City hired The Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky (which runs The Enzweiler Building Institute) to oversee and manage The Program.

About The Award

The annual statewide historic preservation awards are named for Ida Lee Willis, a former Kentucky first lady who was appointed first executive director of The Kentucky Heritage Commission (now The Kentucky Heritage Council) in 1966. Under her direction, The Agency began surveying The State earnestly nominating sites to The National Register Of Historic Places awarding grants promoting preservation statewide.

The Covington Academy Of Heritage Trades is The Tenth Covington-Based Winner Of An Award In The Last Twenty Years Other Winners Include:

- Renovation Of Hellman Creative Center Center For Great Neighborhoods (2017)

- Renovation Of Thomas Edison School Apartments (2012)

- Preservation And Renovation Of Odd Fellows Hall (2005)