TVC awarded $1.99 million job-training grant

Submitted by Scott McCrea
Phone: (907) 474-2857
10/26/05

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Tanana Valley Campus will receive a three-year $1.99 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to strengthen training in Interior Alaska’s energy, construction, mining and power generation industries.

The grant comes through President Bush’s Community-Based Job Training Program and involves a partnership of five community groups, including TVC/UAF, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, Alaska Job Center, Operating Engineers Local 302 and Interior Alaska Regional Council.

Entitled Project Northern WAVE (Workforce for Alaska’s Vocational Employers), the grant will enable TVC to train more new workers for jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries identified by the Alaska Department and Labor and Workforce Development, including process technology, automotive technology, diesel/heavy equipment and drafting/CADD technologies. The grant focuses on expanding intensive certificate programs that enable students to move quickly from training into jobs.

TVC Director Rick Caulfield says that industry and community partners played a crucial role in enabling the campus to obtain the grant.

"This proposal succeeded because of our community partnerships,"? said Caulfield. "We all worked together. Business, labor, government and TVC worked to identify the need, create innovative workforce training strategies and develop measurable goals."?

In addition to the five central partners, TVC had wide support from businesses such as BP Exploration, Golden Valley Electric Association, Seekins Ford, NAPA Auto Parts, Gene’s Auto and many others.

"They will play a vital ongoing role as we train workers and, more importantly, as we send new employees out into the workforce,"? Caulfield added.

Click Bishop of the Operating Engineers congratulated TVC on receiving the grant and said that the award will help TVC and its rural communities by increasing training and job partnering opportunities within the civil, construction, oil, gas and mining trades.

"Alaska is an exciting place for the construction industry, given the infinite opportunities for growth,"? said Bishop. "That means new talent is needed all the time, especially with the escalation of retirement in the present workforce. The future is very bright for people wanting a career in the trades with good skills and benefits. We look forward to our continued partnering efforts with the university to provide skilled workers to the Alaska construction industry."?

The grant will allow Interior Alaska workers to complete workforce development programs in a compressed, nine-month format so that students can quickly put their job skills to work.

"We want to produce qualified graduates as quickly as possible so that they can move into the workforce,"? said Caulfield. "With expanding employment in construction, mining, tourism infrastructure and possibly gas line development, the time is right to expand the pool of skilled workers."?

The grant will also enable TVC to recruit and advise new students, hire additional faculty, expand shop space and track student success in gaining employment. It builds on the partnership that TVC already has with the school district in sharing use of the Hutchison Institute of Technology. TVC expects to begin implementing the training in late spring 2006.

CONTACT: TVC Director Richard Caulfield at 455-2850 or ffrac@uaf.edu; or TVC Marketing Coordinator Scott McCrea at 455-2857 or fnsjm@uaf.edu