Mandan Training Center Gets $4 Million Upgrade!

What great news that FOUR MILLION DOLLARS is being poured into a Mandan Training Facility. Check the Tribune notice here. I found it really cool that it was a program that already existed. It is the North Dakota Association of Rural Cooperatives.  A group that has been vocationally partnering with Bismarck State College over 50 years ago to develop a training program for the essential team of lineman ("line-people" I know, but to be referred to throughout as lineman)

In conjunction with Bismarck State College and presumably their Energy Center of Excellence, dated August 19th, this release was issued by the United States Department of Commerce-

 Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4 million grant to the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, Mandan, North Dakota, to construct a new lineworker training facility in Mandan. The EDA grant will be matched with more than $1 million in local investment.

Wait what? "Line-workers"?  Okay, even better!

So, Mandan will be the base of operations for those brave and determined enough to get after the hard work of getting the power back on. Right on.

So, not only will the facility get a four million dollar upgrade, the region and the state will feel it'e economic benefits for generations to follow.

North Dakota be better able to better respond to disasters of any kind, increased skilled training will uplift our region for years to come. As energy delivery changes, we are prepared to adapt alongside.

Great news indeed.