Governor's Workshop on Education Needs for Restoration Economy
Press Release
Governor's Workshop on Education Needs for Restoration Economy
To be Held in Butte - Thursday, October 2nd - No Cost to Attend
Preparing Montana students and workers for jobs in the state's growing restoration economy will be the focus of a one-day Governor's workshop Oct. 2, 2008, at Montana Tech in Butte, Mont.
Governor Brian Schweitzer will deliver the keynote speech; Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath and former U.S. Rep. Pat Williams will also participate.
"Restoration projects are already creating good-paying Montana jobs and restoring our environment. Much more will be done in the years ahead. We need to be aggressively planning now to make sure our students and workers receive the training necessary to get the job done," said Governor Brian Schweitzer.
Filling the Void: Growing Montana's Restoration Workforce' will bring together private sector firms doing restoration work with leaders in higher education to assess employer needs, training programs and school curriculums.
"Restoration work is a win-win for the economy and the environment," Monica Pokorny, State Restoration Coordinator with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said. "Montanans with the right training and education get good-paying jobs, and all of us benefit from restored waterways, healthy forests and reclaimed mine sites."
Moderated panel discussions in the morning will identify current and future restoration projects around Montana, and the skill sets and knowledge workers need to be competitive for those jobs. In the afternoon, participants break into problem-solving groups to identify coursework, training needs, apprenticeship programs and the best ways to reach students and workers.
"The roundtable sessions are interactive, we want the audience to roll up their sleeves and get involved," Pokorny said. "If you're a heavy equipment operator and you have ideas for making training more accessible, we want to hear what you have to say."
There's no cost to attend the workshop, but everyone must register. A draft agenda, flier and registration form can be found online at http://dnrc.mt.gov/Restoration/conference.asp. To register by phone, contact the Montana DNRC at (406) 444-2074.
Filling the Void' is sponsored by restoration businesses CDM Inc. and Envirocon, along with the Governor's Office, Montana DNRC, Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, Montana AFL-CIO, University of Montana's O'Conner Center for the Rocky Mountain West, Montana Tech, and Western Progress.
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