News Releases for May 2008
May 16, 2008
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Hoeven Presents $500,000 To BSC For Energy Workforce Programs
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today presented a ceremonial check for $496,826 to Bismarck State College to support the school’s efforts to bring new workers into the workforce pipeline for North Dakota’s energy sector.
“Skilled workers are in high demand in our state’s growing energy sector,” Hoeven said. “Through the Workforce Enhancement Grant Program, we are providing public funding in a dollar for dollar match with private sector funding to train and educate the workforce we need. In this case, together with 17 private sector companies, we are providing almost $1 million for training and education in energy careers at BSC.”
BSC’s project is industry driven and guided by recommendations from the North Dakota Energy Plant Managers. The proposed project will expand the Power Plant Technology, Process Plant Technology and Mechanical Maintenance Programs and establish a new Instrumentation and Control Technology program. With this grant, BSC’s energy education programs will have the capacity to graduate 86 workers by 2010.
With the new equipment and curriculum enhancements made possible through the proposed project, Bismarck State College will have the capacity to train an estimated 28 students per semester in Power Plant Technology; 28 students per semester in Process Plant Technology; and 15 students per semester in Mechanical Maintenance Technology. Beginning in fall 2009, an estimated 15 students are expected to be trained each year in Instrumentation and Control Technology. The first semester’s group of students in the I&C Program will be enrolled after the curriculum is developed, faculty is hired, and student recruitment processes are in place.
“Through this Workforce Enhancement Grant, the resources of private industry are brought together with state funding that will provide us nearly $1 million to enhance our ability to equip state-of-the-art laboratories and continue to provide top-notch education and training to our energy and electronics technology students,” BSC President Larry Skogen said.
New plant construction, plant expansions, outages, turnaround activities, and retirements are increasing the demand for workers. The turnover is forecasted to impact workforce levels from 2008 through 2023, based on information from the North Dakota Energy Plant Managers. . The project will concentrate on occupations in power plant technology, process plant technology, mechanical maintenance, and instrumentation and control technology. Participants will receive the education and training necessary to work in multi-skilled, high wage occupations.
New plant construction, plant expansions, outages/turnaround activities, and retirements are increasing the demand for workers. The turnover is forecasted to impact workforce levels from 2008 through 2023, based on information from the North Dakota Energy Plant Managers.
“The North Dakota Energy Industry is pleased to have stepped forward to provide matching funds for tools, equipment, and software for outfitting some of the new and established energy worker training programs at Bismarck State College,” Dave Farnsworth, a senior leader at Great River Energy’s Coal Creek Station. “Skilled labor coming from these programs is vital to our future success and the expansion of the energy industry in North Dakota.”
This is the first Workforce Enhancement Grant approved and granted. The program was established by the 2007 Legislature as an alternative to using the Centers of Excellence program to fund workforce training initiatives.
Workforce Enhancement Grants are a tool for two-year institutions of higher education to apply for funds to help create or enhance training programs that address workforce needs of private sector employers in North Dakota. Projects require private sector participation and a dollar-for-dollar match of all state money with private funds.
Grant funding may be used for curriculum development, equipment, recruitment of participants and training and certification of instructors. Funds may not be used to supplant funding for current operations.
A Workforce Enhancement Council, consisting of the private sector membership of the North Dakota Workforce Development Council, the state director of the Department of Career & Technical Education and the Division Director of the workforce development division of the ND Department of Commerce who serves as the Chair, reviews all proposals and provides funding recommendations to the Commissioner, ND Department of Commerce.
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