College celebrates new welding program

There probably should have been sparks

and flames, but still the excitement was palpable as the community

college unveiled its new welding trailer last week.

About 50 people gathered at Flathead

Valley Community College’s Lincoln County Campus for a reception

honoring the new trailer and welding program.

The new welding program began in

January. The college has condensed the two-semester program into a

10-week schedule. Those who pass the program will be certified

welders.

The program was designed to train

welders to be considered for employment at Stinger Welding Inc.

“We try to position ourselves all the

time to respond to the needs of the community and provide work

force training,” said Pat Pezzelle, director of extended learning

at the Libby campus.

The tractor trailer contains 10 welding

stations. Currently 20 students are enrolled in the program.

Students split their time between the classroom and the welding

trailer.

The first set of students is expected

to graduate from the program this spring after completing the

course.

Stinger Welding, a bridge manufacturer,

began hiring workers last year. The company plans to eventually

hire about 200 people at its plant in the Kootenai Business Park

Industrial District.

“This ultimately means economic

stimulus or jobs then supporting families, ourselves and doing it

local,” said Steve Patrick with Stinger. “We’re really proud of

what this partnership means.”

Patrick said Stinger is working on

several projects — a pedestrian bridge for Portland, Ore., and a

highway bridge for the Seattle area.

“We’re not just focused on 200

employees,” he said. “We have plans for a sister plant — another

100,000 square feet plant.”

Paul Rummelhart, executive director for

Kootenai River Development Council, touted the economic impacts of

Stinger and the college training program.

“Two hundred jobs in Lincoln County —

that’s what makes it a very worthwhile project,” he said. “We want

to get rid of the mantra of being one of the counties in the state

with the highest unemployment.”

Tuition for the training program is

$2,800. The nearest training centers charge about $10,000 to

$20,000 for the same program, Pezzelle noted.

The training course is designed to give

welders the entry levels skills they need for Stinger, but it also

provides training to obtain a welding job anywhere.

Johnette Watkins, manager of the

Kootenai Job Service, said the training is very valuable to those

seeking jobs locally.

“Any time our local community can

access this kind of training it’s a big deal,” she said. “This is a

really viable option for many people to return and have a permanent

job.”