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Economic Stimulus money is hard at work in Pratt this summer. Pratt Community College in partnership with the Workforce Initiative Board — Area 1 (WIB) is teaching a short term 8-wekk course in Electrical Power Technology. The class is completely funded by the workforce Initiative Act (WIA) and is being provided to 13 laid off workers from this from the WIB –Area 1 in Kansas.
Many of the 13 students are laid off aircraft workers from Salina. The students range from 22-40+ in age and come from a variety of different backgrounds. The goal of this program is to give them a fresh start in a new career that they can start very soon.
In this 8-week course, students learn basic groundsmen training for the electrical power technology industry. In addition, they will learn pole climbing, pole top rescue, bucket truck rescue and other safety information.
After this short-term course, these students will be at a skill level that they can be hired on as entry-level groundsmen for electrical line companies – an industry that is currently needing employees now.
“I am very excited about this career opportunity. I believe this school is top notch and I feel privileged to be here,” Lester Hayes, Hutchinson student said.
In order to qualify for the program, the students had to pass a physical test and qualify for the WIA funding based on their job loss. People making this career change must enjoy outdoor work.
“Most of the guys we have in training this summer have spent years working indoors. They really seem to be enjoying being able to work outdoors,” Lane Gourley, EPT instructor said.
Gourley and Dave Campbell serve as instructors for the course and Dylan Irby is serving as an assistant.
Pratt Community College is proud of the partnership with WIA and glad to be able to help retrain some of Kansas’s workforce.
“We are happy to provide this training. These guys really want to learn. I am amazed at the progress they are making,” Gourley said.
Pratt Community College has been training lineman for approximately 20 years and is one of only two such programs in the state of Kansas. For more information about the short-term class or PCC’s traditional Electrical Power Technology program, contact Gourley at 620-450-2127.
Economic Stimulus money is hard at work in Pratt this summer. Pratt Community College in partnership with the Workforce Initiative Board — Area 1 (WIB) is teaching a short term 8-wekk course in Electrical Power Technology. The class is completely funded by the workforce Initiative Act (WIA) and is being provided to 13 laid off workers from this from the WIB –Area 1 in Kansas.
Many of the 13 students are laid off aircraft workers from Salina. The students range from 22-40+ in age and come from a variety of different backgrounds. The goal of this program is to give them a fresh start in a new career that they can start very soon.
In this 8-week course, students learn basic groundsmen training for the electrical power technology industry. In addition, they will learn pole climbing, pole top rescue, bucket truck rescue and other safety information.
After this short-term course, these students will be at a skill level that they can be hired on as entry-level groundsmen for electrical line companies – an industry that is currently needing employees now.
“I am very excited about this career opportunity. I believe this school is top notch and I feel privileged to be here,” Lester Hayes, Hutchinson student said.
In order to qualify for the program, the students had to pass a physical test and qualify for the WIA funding based on their job loss. People making this career change must enjoy outdoor work.
“Most of the guys we have in training this summer have spent years working indoors. They really seem to be enjoying being able to work outdoors,” Lane Gourley, EPT instructor said.
Gourley and Dave Campbell serve as instructors for the course and Dylan Irby is serving as an assistant.
Pratt Community College is proud of the partnership with WIA and glad to be able to help retrain some of Kansas’s workforce.
“We are happy to provide this training. These guys really want to learn. I am amazed at the progress they are making,” Gourley said.
Pratt Community College has been training lineman for approximately 20 years and is one of only two such programs in the state of Kansas. For more information about the short-term class or PCC’s traditional Electrical Power Technology program, contact Gourley at 620-450-2127.
