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Montana Should Produce More Jobs Through Energy Conservation and Land Restoration

Montana should start regrowing jobs in the next few years, but it could do it a lot faster by concentrating on two opportunities, according to a University of Montana researcher.

"It just requires patient capital," O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West http://crmw.org/ director Larry Swanson said at the "Into the Future" job growth conference on Tuesday. "This would mean thousands of jobs in every community – it’s a no-brainer."

The two targets are energy conservation and environmental restoration, Swanson told the conference, which was organized by the Montana AFL-CIO. Those areas would employ large swaths of skilled workers who’ve suffered layoffs and closures during the recent economic downturn.

Key Trends and Economic Conditions Affecting Job Projections: http://www.matr.net/files/Swanson1JobGrowthinMontana.pdf

By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/produce-jobs-through-energy-conservation-land-restoration-speaker-says/article_90d29c0a-a48c-11e1-8257-001a4bcf887a.html

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University of Montana Occupational Skills Training in Ecological Restoration Scholarship Program

Background – Restoration of degraded ecosystems has become a primary focus of natural
resource management in terrestrial and aquatic environments across Montana. As an
increasing number of restoration projects are implemented, there is a corresponding need for
trained professionals who understand not only the science of restoration ecology, but also the
practice of restoring degraded ecosystems and the social factors that lead to successful project
implementation. Toward that end, University of Montana established a cutting‐edge
undergraduate degree program in ecological restoration that provides students with the skills
necessary to not only successfully compete for employment in the restoration sector but also to
tackle the complex challenges associated with restoring degraded ecosystems.

The program,
which includes a mix of in‐class training and hands‐on experience, requires 400 hours of work
experience. Although hands‐on experience is a critical part of student training, to fulfill the
work requirement students must volunteer their time, or in some cases take low‐paying entry
level positions, which often requires forgoing more profitable employment. Even though the
training and degree will ultimately result in more stable and better employment opportunities,
the short‐term loss of wages is a financial hardship that may prevent some students from
entering into or successfully completing the program. With support from the AFL‐CIO, the
College of Forestry and Conservation’s Wildland Restoration Program offered five Occupational
Skills Training in Ecological Restoration (OSTER) scholarships to advanced undergraduate
students enrolled in the ecological restoration major.

Funds were awarded on a competitive
basis, based on a student’s potential for a successful career in ecological restoration, academic
excellence, and financial need. Scholarships were awarded for the 2010/11 (total of 2) and
2011/2012 (total of 3) academic years.

Full Story: http://www.matr.net/files/UMOccupationalSkillsTraininginEcologicalScholarshipPgm.pdf

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