The San Juan County Economic Development Council has been given a Washington State Department of Commerce Work Start grant for a county-wide Marine Trades Education program, which will be run in partnership with Commerce, San Juan County, the Town of Friday Harbor, Skagit Valley College, the Port of Friday Harbor, Islanders Bank, the Northwest Workforce Council, Heritage Bank, and area marine businesses.

A highly competitive grant program, Work Start is designed to provide training to workers in order to address business expansion or loss of business to other states or countries. The funding granted to the EDC will facilitate the delivery of marine maintenance training to San Juan County workers through Skagit Valley College’s Anacortes campus, the Northwest Center of Excellence in Marine Manufacturing and Technology. Participants will receive training in Marine Maintenance Technology, including engine repair and marine electrical system repair. The training program will begin in April of this year.