U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AWARDS $994,600 TO CBC and WSU TRI-CITIES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AWARDS $994,600 TO CBC & WSU TRI-CITIES

In Tri-Cities Washington, the two higher education institutions in the Tri-Cities collaborated with the Tri-City Development Council to receive a $994,600 award from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management to build the next generation of project management, nuclear engineering, and radiation safety professionals.

"This DOE Financial Assistance Award comes at a significant time in our community's economy, especially given the ongoing state budget cuts to higher education," TRIDEC President Carl Adrian said.  "Our proposal was successful because of the support from our Congressional Delegation, the Hanford Prime Contractors, HAMMER, the Hanford Site Future Workforce Subcommittee, and IBEW-77."

The award is for $994,600 to Columbia Basin College, including a sub-award of $383,460 to Washington State University Tri-Cities. It is effective immediately and extends through June 2012. 

"I am pleased that the Tri-Cities received this grant from the Department of Energy," Congressman Doc Hastings said. "I applaud TRIDEC and their partners for their contributions to Central Washington and am confident that this investment will continue the success of CBC and WSU Tri-Cities."

Columbia Basin College will use $611,140 to establish a One-Year Certificate in Project Management, an AA Degree in Project Management, curriculum for a PMP Certificate, a Project Management Training Center, and a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Project Management, plus will issue $200,000 in scholarships.  The funding allows CBC to hire three full-time and two part-time employees to implement the programs.  

"This grant funding will allow CBC to train students on Primavera, a commonly-used project portfolio management software used in business and industry today," CBC President Rich Cummins said.  "Developing project management curriculum through the DOE funding ultimately will provide certificates, associate, and baccalaureate degree options in project management." 

WSU Tri-Cities will receive $383,460 to enhance a Nuclear Engineering Graduate Certificate, to develop a Health and Safety Graduate Certificate, to create a Career Readiness web portal, and to support student success through mentoring, tutoring, technical internships, and select scholarships.

"These graduate certificate programs will enable us to address two areas of significant demand from employers for professionals who have expertise in radiation protection and for engineers who understand advanced principles of nuclear engineering," said James R. "Dick" Pratt, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at WSU Tri-Cities.

"This is just one of the many ways that TRIDEC and our community partners contribute to the future success of the Tri-Cities," Adrian said.  "TRIDEC is committed to working towards many more wins for our local economy."