Federal grant allows for more advanced manufacturing training

The North Dakota Advanced Manufacturing Skills Training Initiative, led by the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., was recently awarded a $2.7 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Labor which will be used to expand advanced manufacturing training opportunities. “Ultimately, we’re going to be increasing the things we do in automation (robotics), welding, fabrication and precision machining,” says Barb Bang, dean of technologies and services at NDSCS.

The grant will allow NDSCS to carry out an expansion to the welding program at the college’s Fargo campus, purchase a variety of equipment for its advanced manufacturing programs and develop curriculum for online courses designed for students who are currently employed to work towards a degree while maintaining full-time employment. The college will also purchase a mobile trailer which will allow it to deliver equipment for any of its advanced manufacturing programs to training sites throughout the state. The program enhancements are slated to be offered beginning next fall.

Bang says the college earned the grant after working with private industry to identify educational needs and following up with a grant application requesting funding to provide the tools needed to support those needs. “We have really heard from industry in the past three to four years how great their need is,” she says.

In a joint statement, North Dakota’s congressional delegation congratulated NDSCS for its successful grant request and efforts to continue providing needed training. “Partnerships between higher education and industry, like those forged by NDSCS, help ensure that our state’s students get the results they need from their education, while providing the skilled workers our businesses need to grow and provide the best products and services,” the delegation said.