All Aboard the Training Express
Published Jan 06, 2009
Ever-changing technology means the Jefferson County Workforce Center and iCAST must constantly update their instruction.
In today’s shifting marketplace, job training is an ongoing process. “It’s really about lifelong learning,” says Mary Russell, director of the Jefferson County Workforce Center in Golden.
The Jefferson County Workforce Center and the International Center for Appropriate & Sustainable Technology – a Lakewood-based nonprofit known as iCAST – are providing courses and programs to facilitate training and meet employers’ needs.
Consider the workforce center’s work-readiness program, currently in a pilot phase. The program is based on WorkKeys, a job-skills assessment system developed by the nonprofit American College Testing organization.
The test determines capabilities in core areas, including applied mathematics, reading and information gathering. “It’s a way for an employer to find the right kind of employee – one who will fit their needs,” Russell says. “They can hit the ground running.”
The workforce center also helps fund training programs.
A $100,000 grant enabled Lockheed Martin Space Systems to train up to 60 employees on new software involving the Orion crew exploration vehicle project. A small drapery manufacturer, DSC Window Fashions, received a grant to provide English-language instruction for foreign-born employees.
The Jefferson County Workforce Center also worked with iCAST to secure a $389,000 grant from Metro Denver WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development).
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
With the grant money, iCAST created three one-week classes to train workers for the energy-efficiency and solar-energy industries. “They’re for the unemployed, the underemployed and people who want to change careers,” says Herb Rubenstein, chief knowledge officer of iCAST.
The debut session was held in autumn 2008, and the classes – free for participants – will repeat in summer 2009.
The first class trains people to become energy auditors – consultants who visit customer homes and recommend energy-efficient changes, such as replacing an inefficient hot water heater or adding insulation.
The second class focuses on installing new energy-efficient technologies.
The final class, which is also technically oriented, zeros in on solar energy. While the class primarily addresses new construction, it also discusses older solar systems, installed pre-1980 when there were hefty tax credits. Many of these older systems have fallen into disrepair.
Participants can sign up for a one-week internship to gain on-the-job experience.
The University of Colorado has videotaped and edited the classes for online viewing.
Expect more such programs as both the Jefferson County Workforce Center and iCAST continue to listen to the voices of the business community. “We want businesses to be more efficient and productive,” Russell says. And she wants well-trained employees to garner better salaries. “With every salary increase, there is more money into the economy.”
Story by Pam George
Photo by Ian Curcio
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