Who sponsors this grant?
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) , Employment and Training Administration (ETA), often referred to as DOLETA.
How much was awarded?
$1,323,000
What is the period of performance?
3 years: July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2013.
What is the purpose of the grant?
This project provides training, education, and job placement assistance to prepare workers for employment in high growth and other emerging industries
I am unemployed, can I take advantage of the grant?
Yes! This grant focuses on these types of students:
Unemployed workers – individuals who are without a job and who want and are available to work.
Dislocated workers – individuals who were terminated or laid–off or have received a notice of termination or lay-off from employment; or were self-employed but are now unemployed.
Incumbent workers – individuals who are employed but need training to secure full-time employment, advance in their careers, or retain their current occupations.
What is the goal of the 5-week program and grant?
Answer: Our vision of the program is to give veterans or unemployed people with a strong background in electronics the opportunity to gain employment in the wind industry. In an intense 5-week program, NJC will take a participant’s existing knowledge and give them some of the specialization needed to become a wind technician. The 5-week program will start May 31st and end July 1st. NJC will only be able to work with 22 students during the 5-week program. On Jan 11th and Feb 4th, NJC will bring students out to visit our campus, our wind tech lab, and to visit a wind farm and see a wind turbine up close. While on campus NJC will do some testing to determine all candidates’ background knowledge. If needed, NJC will offer other tour/testing days. After the tour days, NJC will determine the 22 students that will be able to attend the summer program and begin the process of getting them enrolled and ready to start. NJC will also create a wait list in case any of the original 22 need to back out.
I am interested in the program, what do I need to do
Answer: Decide if the 2-year Associates Degree program or the 5-week program will fit your needs better.
- 2-year – Contact Jason Hazlett (970-521-6740) to get on the wait list. He will then discuss the strengths and some of the details of the program with you. After that if you are still interested you will need to register at NJC and follow all the requirements of any student.
- 5-week- The first step is to sign up for one of the introduction/tour days. Do this by calling Neil Browne, (970-521-6737) or Derek Herbert (970-521-6714). After you are signed up you will receive information about the introduction day. On the introduction day all participants will be tested on existing knowledge and given information about the program. After all the testing days, NJC will analyze the testing and backgrounds of all participants and decide what applicants are admitted into the 5-week program. After the selection of the 5-week summer students, NJC will notify all members that attended a tour/testing day to let them know if they will be part of the 5-week course or put on a wait list.
If I take the 5-week course will I be able to get a job in the wind energy field and what is the typical starting salary?
Answer: Depending on the student’s previous electronics background, the students that take the course will have the opportunity to find employment in the wind industry. The typical starting salary for a wind technician is around $40,000. A lot of the opportunity for employment and pay will depend on how the candidate interviews, whether the candidate is willing to travel, and previous experience that can be used to make the candidate more marketable. Once employed, there are opportunities for advancement in the wind industry. NJC will provide training and contacts to help find employment, but does not do any hiring and can’t guarantee employment.
How much will it cost to attend the 5 week session?
Answer: NJC received a grant to help pay for room and board. If a student does not get any aid for tuition, fees, and books they can expect to pay around $1500. If the candidate can have military benefits or government financial aid grants pay for tuition, they have a good chance of having all except books and fees paid. If that occurs, the cost to attend would be minimal. Financial Aid is decided on an individual basis so each applicant that is accepted will need to apply and go through the financial aid department. If there are questions about financial aid please contact the financial aid department at (970) 521-6800. There are also possibilities to receive financial aid through the Eastern Colorado Workforce Center. Please feel free to contact them also at (970) 522-9340.
Where will I stay if I attend the 5 week program?
Answer: If accepted to the 5 week program, students will stay at the Blue Spruce dorm, which is brand new, or in the GRB suites at NJC. Each student will receive their own room. Students will also be put on a meal plan and be able to eat at the NJC cafeteria.
Will I get to examine a wind turbine or go up in one?
Answer: Students that come to test into the 5-week session will visit a wind farm and a wind turbine. If a student is admitted into either the 2-year or 5-week program, they will get the chance to climb a turbine and explore the inside of one at the Peetz wind farm. They also will get to train on several pieces of equipment from turbines in our wind tech lab.
Will I have access to computers to do my homework or to keep in touch with family?
Answer: Students will have access to computer labs during the terms they are attending.
What does the training look like?
Answer: In both situations, there will be some lecture/classroom time to explain topics but most of the time will be spent doing hands on experiences in the wind tech lab. The students will spend time doing safety training with the proper equipment and will also get training on soft skills, like resume writing, interviewing, etc. In the 2 year program there is a strong push by NJC to try to get students into internships to extend their training and to make connections that will hopefully help with job opportunities.
What kinds of equipment will a student train on?
Answer: NJC has purchased a lot of hi-tech equipment to make sure students are training on equipment that is very similar to what is being used in wind energy. NJC has also received numerous equipment donations from wind energy companies (including gear boxes, blades, etc.) that came straight from wind farms. A student that goes through the NJC program will gain experience in the types of equipment they could run across while working on wind turbines. They will gain experience in electricity, hydraulics, mechanical systems, etc.
If you have other questions or want more information please feel free to contact any of the following.
Jason Hazlett – (Primary Investigator for the CBJT Grant & Chair of the Wind Tech Department)
(970) 521-6694 email: Jason.Hazlett@njc.edu
Jason Hazlett – (Wind Technology Instructor) (970) 521- 6740 email: Jason.Hazlett@njc.edu
Derek Herbert – (CBJT Grant Manager) (970) 521 – 6714 email: derek.herbert@njc.edu