10/17/11 WVC Receives Workforce Training Grants (more)

A federal grant is pumping $20 million into aerospace industry training in Washington state.

Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell said the Labor Department money will help put residents of the state back to work. The money's going to 14 community colleges, technical schools training organizations. Wenatchee Valley College will receive 700-thousand dollars over the next three years to train more students in the electronics field on both the Omak and Wenatchee campuses, offer support services to students in the program and support the aerospace industry.

Spokane Community College President Joe Dunlap says the money will help train about 2,600 people over a three-year period, but the steps the schools are taking to expand capacity will last well beyond three years.

Having training programs in place will be key in the state's effort to land future work on Boeing's 737 re-engined jet. Boeing has built the plane in Renton for decades but hasn't said where the new version will be built.