SIGNIFICANT PLUM CREEK DONATION ENHANCES JOB TRAINING PROGRAM AT FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
(press release issued by Flathead Valley Community College)

KALISPELL, Mont.--March 24, 2009--A new partnership between Plum Creek and Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) will enable the college to better meet the education needs of workers in the area who have recently lost their jobs. During a special presentation today at FVCC, Plum Creek announced it will donate $60,000 to the college to enhance existing training programs and will loan some heavy equipment for use in the classes. Plum Creek manages timberlands nationwide and operates manufacturing facilities in Northwest Montana.

“With an 11 percent unemployment rate in the Flathead Valley, we have seen a dramatic impact in our enrollment and the need to retrain dislocated workers,” said FVCC President Jane Karas. “This generous donation from Plum Creek will help us meet the needs of the many individuals in our community who have recently lost their jobs.”
 

The donation will expand classes in heavy equipment operating, electrical technology, welding, furniture and cabinetry and building trades.
 
In addition to the classes, the college’s Career Center provides students job search services and resources such as resume preparation and access to job databases.  

FVCC has partnered with Flathead Job Service to advise dislocated workers on education and training opportunities.  Those who qualify for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Dislocated Worker and/or Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs may take advantage of the retraining offered at the college while continuing to collect unemployment benefits. These programs will provide tuition, books and related fees.

“We believe Flathead Valley Community College offers the kind of practical and relevant training that will help former manufacturing workers find jobs in the near future. We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the college to help members of our community get back to work,” said Hank Ricklefs, Plum Creek’s vice president of Northern Resources and Manufacturing.

He noted that Plum Creek asked the college to identify training programs that would help former wood products industry workers acquire new and relevant skills. “The specific application for these funds was created by the college in preparation for an influx of new enrollees who have worked in our industry,” he said.

 
This month, FVCC reported an enrollment increase of just over 20 percent and a student headcount increase of 17 percent from last spring.  FVCC accounts for approximately 25 percent of the enrollment growth within the Montana University System this spring.