Money available for marine training
Published 9:37 am Monday, July 9, 2012
In a tough economy, one of the best ways to find a job is to further your education.
After receiving a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, the San Juan County Economic Development Council is hoping to help eight lucky islanders with marine training.
“I am thrilled we received this funding because it will enable islanders to garner high wage jobs in San Juan County – which is no easy feat,” said EDC Director Victoria Compton.
The EDC is slated to receive a portion of a $49,378 job training grant from the USDA.
The money will go towards the “Tri-County Rural Business Education Network” that was created by San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom Counties to address the growing need for business and job-skills training. The total budget for the project is $159,990. Of that, $14,788 will be used to train San Juan County residents in marine diesel technology and fiberglass manufacturing.
Skagit County will be working on web-streamed educational offerings and Island County will offer supply chain management courses.
During a typical year, it costs the EDC around $20,000 for educational opportunities for businesses.
“I am pleased to see these federal dollars going to work in San Juan County,” said U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen in a press release. “This training will help workers in the San Juan Islands get the skills they need to find new jobs or advance in their current jobs.”
The funding will provide educational scholarships for eight qualified adults.
“Basically anyone can apply,” Compton said. “Hopefully it will be someone just out of school, under-employed or unemployed.”
The six-month program will be held in Anacortes at the Northwest Center of Excellence in Marine Manufacturing and Technology at Skagit Valley College.
The EDC is accepting applications for the marine technical training scholarships until July 20. For more information, or to apply visit,www.sanjuansedc.org/marine.htm.
Compton says West Sound Marina on Orcas, Jensen Shipyard on San Juan and Islands’ Marine Center on Lopez have all expressed interest in hiring a graduate of the program. Plus, being surrounded by water is good job security for this profession.
“It is such a slam dunk because these shipyards have said, ‘Yes, we want to hire people,’” Compton said. “The idea is to create high wage jobs.”
