Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
BILL MALLOY, left, vice-president of GCC's board of trustees; Charlene Newhouse, president of GCC's foundation board; Tom Casperson, former Michigan Senator; Erik Guenard, vice-president of business services at GCC; George McNulty, president of GCC; Sen. Ed McBroom, R-38th district for Michigan; Jeanne Graham, dean of student services at GCC; Gary Gouin, welding instructor at GCC; Gary Lang, board member GCC, participate in the construction kick-off ceremony for Gogebic Community College's Skilled Trade Center on Friday.
By BRYAN HELLIOS
Ironwood - The construction kick-off ceremony for Gogebic Community College's Skilled Trades Center took place on Friday at the college's new training facility.
GCC President George McNulty welcomed everyone in attendance to the event and talked about how the training center will impact the area.
"This facility is going to strengthen our partnerships in the region with business and industry," he said. "And it's really going to create additional training opportunities for the people."
He credited multiple people for their support for bringing the project to fruition and for grants received from the state of Michigan.
"To our students who have chosen to be bold and continue their education at Gogebic Community College," he said. "This is for you."
Gary Gouin, welding instructor at GCC, has been teaching at the college for nine years and said he is always learning.
"Technology is changing rapidly in welding and manufacturing," he said, adding the changes are making the process more efficient as well as making training easier.
Gouin said the college's advisory committee recommended the facility be stocked with a variety of machines from multiple manufacturers.
"Most of the workstations that we're going to be featuring can basically weld all the processes with all the common steels," he said.
McNulty said looking at major labor statistics shows that this is an area where there is a need.
"We have to train for the future," he said. "People need more than just a living wage, a wage where people can advance and have opportunities."
State Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), said this project is a "bright spot" to the state of Michigan after the "bad news" which started to roll out last year.
He said the shift from needing a four year degree to acquiring a skill is driving the economy in the Upper Peninsula.
"We have a future that continues to depend on people who are willing to work with their hands," he said.
The Skilled Trades Center is located at 205 E. Midland Ave. at the corner of Greenbush Street.
