WIT will start boiler training program
By Dolly A. Butz Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- A $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor will help Western Iowa Tech Community College establish a national boiler training institute.
The hands-on lab will allow program participants to practice boiler installation and maintenance. The ethanol and biofuel industries are reliant on boilers.
Western Iowa Tech was on of 69 community colleges and community-based institutions nationwide that competed to receive a total $125 million in grants.
Letters of support and commitment to the project by Western Iowa Tech's partners were key to its approval, Julie Stoik, dean of external affairs for WIT, said.
"This is a need that became evident to us by our local partners," Stoik said. "We've had a lot of good partners that have put this project together."
Plains Boiler, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Amazing Energy, VeraSun Energy, Cargill Inc., Midco Supply & Technical Group, Spirax/Sarco, Cleaver-Brooks Inc., the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and Iowa Workforce Development partnered with Western Iowa Tech on the project.
Western Iowa Tech will also use a portion of the $2,254,876 to hire a recruitment specialist, who will take a mobile lab to area high schools and career fairs. Stoik said the industry will need to recruit new workers to replace the boiler technicians who will be retiring over the next 10 years.
"We're going to have to recruit some new workers," she said.
In addition to the recruitment specialist, the college will also hire a director of project development for curriculum and two boiler training specialists. Stoik said the training specialists will not only work with participants in the lab on campus, but will also make training available to businesses who need it.
Career accounts funded by the grant will help participants pay for a short-term training program, which lasts less than a year.
"We can help with costs," Stoik said. "It's not only for new people to come into the industry, but also for incumbent workers."
During the three years that the grant is distributed, Stoik said, the college hopes to train 225 participants and 300 incumbent workers.
Introduced by President Bush in his 2004 State of the Union address, Community-Based Job Training Grants improve the ability of community colleges to provide their regions' workers with the skills needed to enter growing industries. The 69 grants awarded will support projects in 36 states.
The hands-on lab will allow program participants to practice boiler installation and maintenance. The ethanol and biofuel industries are reliant on boilers.
Western Iowa Tech was on of 69 community colleges and community-based institutions nationwide that competed to receive a total $125 million in grants.
Letters of support and commitment to the project by Western Iowa Tech's partners were key to its approval, Julie Stoik, dean of external affairs for WIT, said.
"This is a need that became evident to us by our local partners," Stoik said. "We've had a lot of good partners that have put this project together."
Plains Boiler, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Amazing Energy, VeraSun Energy, Cargill Inc., Midco Supply & Technical Group, Spirax/Sarco, Cleaver-Brooks Inc., the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and Iowa Workforce Development partnered with Western Iowa Tech on the project.
Western Iowa Tech will also use a portion of the $2,254,876 to hire a recruitment specialist, who will take a mobile lab to area high schools and career fairs. Stoik said the industry will need to recruit new workers to replace the boiler technicians who will be retiring over the next 10 years.
"We're going to have to recruit some new workers," she said.
In addition to the recruitment specialist, the college will also hire a director of project development for curriculum and two boiler training specialists. Stoik said the training specialists will not only work with participants in the lab on campus, but will also make training available to businesses who need it.
Career accounts funded by the grant will help participants pay for a short-term training program, which lasts less than a year.
"We can help with costs," Stoik said. "It's not only for new people to come into the industry, but also for incumbent workers."
During the three years that the grant is distributed, Stoik said, the college hopes to train 225 participants and 300 incumbent workers.
Introduced by President Bush in his 2004 State of the Union address, Community-Based Job Training Grants improve the ability of community colleges to provide their regions' workers with the skills needed to enter growing industries. The 69 grants awarded will support projects in 36 states.
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