$2.9 million awarded to TMCC and WNC for apprenticeships

Governor Brian Sandoval, Chancellor Dan Klaich, and Truckee Meadows Community College President Dr. Maria Sheehan today announced that the Northern Nevada College Apprenticeship Consortium was awarded $2.9 million from the U.S. Department of Labor, American Apprenticeship Award program. The Consortium is a partnership between Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), which will serve as the grant administrator, and Western Nevada College (WNC).

The award will develop the career skills of 400 northern Nevadans for jobs at Tesla, Panasonic, and other manufacturing companies over the next five years. The program is aimed at developing the work skills and increasing workforce opportunities for members of underrepresented populations, lower-skilled or disadvantaged populations, and veterans.

“Developing a skilled workforce is a vital next step in ensuring Nevada’s continued economic growth,” said Governor Brian Sandoval. “This grant has been awarded at a time when so many Nevadans, especially our veterans returning from service overseas, are seeking opportunities to upgrade their skills and change careers. I commend TMCC and WNC for taking the steps necessary to prepare their students for the potentials found in the new Nevada economy.”

With the new funds, the Consortium will implement scalable apprenticeship programs to develop a more skilled workforce and increase career opportunities in the burgeoning advanced manufacturing sector in northern Nevada. TMCC and WNC will develop self-paced and competency-based flexible apprenticeship training, aligned with employer needs. Technical courses will be broken into content-specific modules, taken in order as defined by the employer.

“This grant is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of our community colleges and our public-private partnerships,” said Dan Klaich, NSHE chancellor. “The Northern Nevada College Apprenticeship Consortium has been a valuable partner in helping us develop and expand our apprenticeship programs.”

Seven leading employers have joined the Consortium as apprenticeship sponsors and additional businesses will be recruited. Participating employers include:

• Click Bond manufacturer of high technology products
• Hamilton Co. manufacturer of liquid handling and storage solutions
• Hose Master manufactures expansion joints
• International Game Technology manufactures gaming equipment
• NOW Foods manufactures natural foods and personal care products
• Panasonic manufacturer and supplier for Tesla Gigafactory
• Tesla Motors production center for lithium ion cells and battery packs

Community partners including JOIN, Inc. and Community Services Agency, among others, who will provide supportive services such as assessing work skills, remediation programs for basic skills deficits (math, communications), pre-apprenticeship training (OSHA, CPR and first-aid, print reading, electrical safety, material handling), high school dual enrollment programs, childcare and transportation to qualifying individuals.

“TMCC is grateful for the community partnerships that will serve students seeking employment,” said Dr. Maria Sheehan, president of TMCC. “They will receive excellent preparation to get a better job and achieve their career goals.”

In all, the Department of Labor awarded $175 million in American Apprenticeship Grants to 46 public-private partnerships marrying the efforts of employers, organized labor, non-profits, local governments, and educational institutions to expand high-quality apprenticeships. The winning grantees have pledged to train and hire more than 34,000 new apprentices in high-growth and high-tech industries including health care, IT and advanced manufacturing over the next five years. The American Apprenticeship Award Grants were created to expand on President Obama’s call to action in his State of the Union address in 2014, and since then over 55,000 new apprenticeship opportunities have already been created.

“This grant, coming on the heels of the TAACCCT grants, provides a solid foundation for Western Nevada College to work in concert with TMCC to provide a skilled, well trained workforce for area employers and we welcome this opportunity,” Western Nevada College President Chet Burton said.

For more information about the Apprenticeship programs, contact TMCC’s Technical Science Division at (775) 856-5300 or WNC’s Dr. Robert Wynegar at (775) 445-4431.

About TMCC

Truckee Meadows Community College is a comprehensive community college located in Reno, Nev., and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. With five college sites and more than 20 community locations, TMCC serves more than 16,000 students each year in state-supported programs and another 9,600 students in non-credit workforce development classes. For more information, please go to www.tmcc.edu.

About WNC

Western Nevada College is a comprehensive community college that serves more than 5,000 students each year within a five-county area, spanning more than 10,000 square miles. Western offers a diverse curriculum that is tailored to meet students’ individual educational goals. By offering multiple college degree, certificate and career-building programs, smaller class sizes, and personalized counseling opportunities, WNC helps to ensure students a positive and successful college experience.The college offers academic degrees, certificates and certifications that can lead to diverse careers and transfer to a university or state college. Areas of study include business, liberal arts, sciences, technologies, fine arts, humanities, and more. In response to industry needs, the college also offers specialized training programs in construction, machine tool, drafting, welding, computing and other technical areas. Customization often includes providing specialized instruction at the times and locations most convenient to employers, including on-site programs.

Western’s faculty is recognized as highly educated and accessible to students. Faculty dedication is reflected in the college’s commitment to free and unfettered inquiry; tolerance and respect for differences; development of critical thinking skills; and good citizenship.WNC students represent the individualism and diversity of our society. They enter college with different goals and expectations. WNC offers them opportunities to pursue their career dreams in a more affordable and nurturing environment. Students can “Start Here, Go Anywhere!”