Senator Baucus, Senator Tester Announce $25 Million To Boost Job Training Resources For Montana Colleges

Baucus’ Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Legislation Fuels Critical Grants for 13 Two-Year Colleges across Montana

Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today announced $25 million to boost job training programs at the 13 two-year colleges across Montana. The goal is to train more than 9,000 Montanans to fill good-paying jobs in the rapidly growing advanced manufacturing and energy industries.

The grant is made possible by the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Community College and Career Training program Baucus created in 2009 and secured funding for in 2010.

"The energy boom in eastern Montana is rapidly creating new job opportunities across our state, and this grant will make sure Montana workers have the skills and training they need to land those high-paying jobs," said Baucus, who just wrapped his 6th Economic Development Summit http://montanajobssummit.com/ in Butte. "One of the messages we heard over and over at our jobs summit in Butte, is that creating new jobs in Montana doesn’t do us any good unless our workers are trained and ready to fill them. I’m proud of Montana colleges for stepping up to the plate to help make sure Montana jobs go to Montana workers."

"Making sure Montanans have the skills they need for good jobs will help them support their families and drive new businesses to the Big Sky State," Tester said. "These grants will strengthen our colleges and help them provide new opportunities to hard-working Montanans."

Today’s grants are designed to help Montana’s 13 two year colleges work together to develop a statewide approach for training workers in advanced manufacturing and energy fields. These industries were targeted because there is a significant and growing need for high-skilled workers to fill good-paying jobs in those areas across the state. The college consortium is also partnering with 57 Montana employers to support the training efforts.

"This grant is an absolute game-changer that will allow Montana colleges to take their job training efforts to the next level and meet the needs of Montana workers like never before," said Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian.

Christian announced the grant at the Montana Board of Regent meeting in Butte this morning. He said the grant could not have been possible without support from Senator Baucus, Senator Tester, and Congressman Daines, and thanked Senator Baucus for his efforts to ensure the legislation was available to support this funding.

John Cech, Deputy Commissioner for Two-Year and Community Colleges Education for Montana said grant involving 13 two-year colleges (including two tribal colleges) and 57 employers in the state represents the largest two-year education partnership effort in the history of Montana.

Consortium Member

Funding Request

Great Falls College Montana State University (Applicant)

$8,505,260

Fort Peck Community College

$1,516,571

Montana State University Northern

$1,746,864

City College Montana State University Billings

$1,465,338

Gallatin College Montana State University

$731,524

Missoula College University of Montana

$1,388,658

University of Montana – Bitterroot College Programs

$931,568

University of Montana Helena – College of Technology

$2,687,563

Highlands College of Montana Tech

$454,965

Flathead Valley Community College

$3,466,107

Dawson Community College

$562,587

Miles Community College

$482,437

Little Big Horn College

$1,038,887

In addition to support for Montana Colleges and Community colleges, TAA also provides job training and support directly to workers who have been laid off through no fault of their own. Since 2009, TAA has supported more than 800 workers at nearly 40 companies. Baucus is currently working to pass legislation extending the that part of the TAA program through 2020. Without Baucus’ bill, that part of the TAA program will expire at the end of 2013. Learn more about TAA and Baucus’ work to support the program HERE. http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1381

Baucus chairs the Senate Finance Committee with sole jurisdiction over the TAA program, and he has repeatedly worked to ensure it is updated and extended to serve Montana workers.