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Montana University System Expands Workforce Training Opportunities

The Office of The Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) has announced that the Montana University System Board of Regents approved the disbursement of $5.5 million to campuses throughout the system to support workforce training needs in high demand fields.†

The $5.5 million represents an appropriation from the 2007 Legislature and a statewide commitment on behalf of the Legislature, the Governorís Office, and the Board of Regents to support workforce training in the state of Montana. The funds will help develop more than thirty new and existing programs and enhance training opportunities in the industries of healthcare, construction, information technology, and more.

Most notably, campuses were able to match the state dollars allocated by the legislature with more than 6 million in non-state funds provided from private industry, as well as the federal government.ìThis is a significant investment on behalf of the state of Montana.The University System will expand it by receiving funds from a variety of industries to fuel these programs,î said Sheila Stearns, Commissioner of Higher Education.

A few examples of the uses of the funds are:

-†††††† a clinical laboratory science training program in Bozeman that will allow students for the first time to remain in state to receive their credential to work in Montana hospitals;

-†††††† equipment to help start the newly developed speech pathology program in Missoula;

-†††††† construction trades equipment to enhance and develop much needed programs in Kalispell, Great Falls, Missoula, Billings, and Havre;

-†††††† laboratory equipment to support petroleum engineering and mining programs in Butte; and

-†††††† equipment and technology to develop a virtual manufacturing lab in Billings, industrial trades in programs in Helena, and precision metals fabrication facilities in Butte.

ìWorkforce development is clearly a priority of not only the Board of Regents, but the Governor, the Legislature, and industry as a whole,î added Stearns. ìThis is the type of state-wide effort and collaboration that can really make a differenceî.

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