BISMARCK, ND – Public/private training partnership is alive and well, and working hard in North Dakota. 
The state’s Governor, John Hoeven, recently presented a $265,000 Workforce Enhancement Grant to the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton to support the school’s industry partnership to train new and existing workers in the automotive repair and maintenance sector.
The funding will help launch the new Automotive Diagnostic Certification Center at the school in partnership with Snap-on Industrial, a division of $2.5 billion Snap-on Inc., which offers more than 3,000 tools and products designed specifically for the needs of industrial tool users.
“We’re providing Workforce Enhancement Grants that enable our colleges to partner with quality companies like Snap-on Industrial, John Deere and Caterpillar to not only help educate and train our young people, but also to create real opportunities for them in North Dakota,” Hoeven said.
The grant will help cover the cost of diagnostic equipment, software and consulting, a training platform, instructor training and curriculum development. The proposed project was industry driven and guided by recommendations from the NDSCS Automotive Technology Advisory Board, the Automobile Dealers Association of North Dakota, and Snap-on Industrial.
“NDSCS is a trusted partner,” said Frederick Brookhouse, senior business and educational partnership manager for Snap-on Industrial. “Their expertise in training automotive technicians is unequaled and we are extremely excited about enhancing our relationship with this fine program and college.”
More than 200 automobile dealers in the state are registered with the North Dakota Automobile Dealers Association. The majority of them employ multiple technicians.
This program is projected to affect 350 workers over the next two years, including students from automotive and other transportation programs, and members of the workforce in North Dakota and the surrounding region.
Workforce Enhancement Grants enable two-year institutions of higher education to apply for funds to help create or enhance training programs that address the workforce needs of private sector employers in North Dakota. Projects require private sector participation and a dollar-for-dollar match of all state money with private funds.
Grant funding may be used for curriculum development, equipment, recruitment of participants, and training and certification of instructors. Funds may not be used to supplant funding for current operations.
