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North Dakota Commerce Commissioner
Shane Goettle presented a check for
$196,959 to Bismarck State College July 7
to support the school’s efforts to train new
workers for North Dakota’s energy sector.
The funding will support the electrical
lineworker program and the process plant
technology program.
“Our state’s energy sector continues to
experience high demand for skilled workers,
and we want to encourage and support
this growth,” Goettle said. “These Workforce
Enhancement Grants help increase
the capacity of our higher ed institutions
like BSC to provide a consistent pipeline
of well-trained workers to meet the needs
of growing industries in our state.”
A grant for $52,770 will enhance the
lineworker program by funding the purchase
of a new trencher to replace the
existing aging trencher. Energy industry
employers are providing a cash match.
BSC receives workforce grants
Private sector partners are Montana Dakota
Utilities Co., Otter Tail Power Co., Aerial
Contractors Inc. of Moorhead, Cass County
Electric Cooperative, Cavalier Rural Electric
Cooperative, and Duratel. In addition,
Basin Electric Power Cooperative is matching
donations from these member cooperatives:
Capital Electric, Mountrail-Williams
Electric, Verendrye Electric, Mor-Gran-Sou
Electric, Roughrider Electric, Slope Electric,
McLean Electric, McKenzie Electric, KEM
Electric, and Central Power.
The second grant supports the process
plant technology program with an additional
$144,189 to acquire a biodiesel process
trainer with materials and supplies. This
modification increases the original grant of
$496,826 presented in May 2008 to a total of
$641,015.
Major private sector partners for this grant
are Tesoro, Challenger Industries, Bobcat,
and Great River Energy.
The original grant provided funding for
state-of-the-art equipment, curriculum development
and other critical needs for BSC’s
power plant technology, process plant technology,
mechanical maintenance, and the
new instrumentation and control technology
programs.
Both projects are industry driven and
guided by recommendations from the energy
industry.
BSC President Larry C. Skogen said the
Workforce Enhancement Grant program
helps the two-year colleges meet the needs of
North Dakota industries and students. “The
state funds, along with matching funds from
our industry partners, allow BSC to deliver
these very expensive education and training
programs to meet the needs of the energy
industry. We appreciate the ongoing support
of Governor Hoeven, the Legislature, the
Department of Commerce, and our industry
partners,” Skogen said.
Ron Harper, CEO and general manager
of Basin Electric, represented industry at the
presentation. He said the funds for equipment
bring additional value to what BSC is doing
to train workers for the energy industry.
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.
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