San Juan EDC lands $14K grant for job training in marine mechanics

Published 10:20 am Tuesday, July 3, 2012

The San Juan County Economic Development Council is slated to receive a portion of a $49,378 job training grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to an announcement from U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen’s office, confirmed by EDC Director Victoria Compton.

The grant, combined with $110,612 in local funding, will provide start-up funding for a Tri-County Rural Business Education Network and help to pay for job training in supply chain management and marine technical training and certification in Island, San Juan and Skagit counties. Much of the training will be at Skagit Valley College.

Of the total, $14,788 will be used to train San Juan County residents in diesel technology and fiberglass manufacturing, Compton said. The fund is expected to provide educational scholarships for eight qualified adults.

“It’s exciting,” Compton said. “Shipyards are desperate to find people and they generally can get a job as soon as the training is completed.”

The EDC is accepting applications for the marine technical training scholarships; deadline is July 5. For more information, or to apply visit,www.sanjuansedc.org/marine.htm