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| KVCC Working with Fisher Engineering to Offer Welding Training | | 11/25/2009 10:39:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | 40 to 50 students may be hired once trained
Fisher Engineering, a subsidiary of Douglas Dynamics LLC, has manufactured snowplows for more than 60 years in Rockland. In April, Douglas Dynamics announced the closure of its Johnson City, Tennessee, facility and its plan to relocate production to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Rockland. In preparation for the move, the Rockland location is expanding its current manufacturing facility by 53,000 square feet, with an anticipated completion date of mid-February 2010.
Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) has announced a new Maine Quality Centers partnership with Fisher Engineering to recruit and train students for welding and metal fabricating positions at the company's Rockland facility. To support its expansion, Fisher is expecting to hire approximately 40 to 50 students once their training is complete. There is no cost to students who enroll in the program.
The partnership creates an educational opportunity that will provide hands-on welding training at the Fairfield campus of KVCC and classroom training in Augusta and eventually Rockland. Training is scheduled to begin in December and run through May of 2010. Applicants are required to have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent. Some prior experience in the field of welding fabricating is also desired.
"It is an extremely exciting time for Fisher Engineering to be expanding its manufacturing facility in this economy," said Carrie Lord, human resources manager for Fisher. "We are equally enthusiastic about the partnership with the Maine Quality Centers program and KVCC. Together we have designed a training program that will enable students to learn a wide variety of new skills. Graduates from the program may potentially come to work for us, joining a team of existing employees that have up to 30 years' experience building innovative best-in-class snow- and ice-removal products."
Those interested in the training may contact the nearest Maine CareerCenter for more information. Locations of CareerCenters and contact information are available at www.mainecareercenter.com. They may also contact Flora Stack, KVCC Continuing Education Department coordinator, at 453-5800 or fstack@kvcc.me.edu.
"Anyone interested in this opportunity should go to their CareerCenter, fill out an application, and the college will be in touch with them," said Bruce Davis, KVCC's associate dean of Continuing Education. "I will be recruiting students with the help of
the CareerCenters statewide, with particular emphasis in the Rockland and Augusta areas."
Approximately 391 hours of instruction will be offered, with the majority of time spent on gas metal arc welding, commonly called MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding. Some hours will also be spent on basic math, safety, computer and fabrication training. The value of the training is approximately $150,000, acccording to Davis.
James McGowan, director of the Maine Quality Centers program, said the partnership with Fisher and KVCC will have many benefits for all involved. "Maine Quality Centers is pleased to partner with Fisher Engineering and KVCC to train Maine workers in support of the company's Rockland expansion," McGowan said. "Expanding the skill base of our workforce also expands the economic possibilities for our communities, and we look forward to working with additional area businesses in the future."
Established by the Legislature in 1994, the Maine Quality Centers program is an economic development initiative of the Maine Community College System. Its mission is to meet the workforce education and training needs of new and expanding businesses and provide new employment and career advancement opportunities for Maine people.Customized training is provided at no cost to either the businesses or the trainees. To qualify, a business must be adding at least eight new, full-time positions with competitive wages, benefits and appropriate skill levels. In rural areas a project may be approved with fewer than eight new positions.
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