EVERETT — Industry and government leaders recently took another step toward making an aerospace training center at Paine Field a reality.
“It’s been the highest priority for the aerospace companies across the state to have a one-stop center that will keep us competitive across the country,” said Linda Lanham, executive director of the Aerospace Futures Alliance.
Last week, Edmonds Community College and the industry group signed an operating agreement for the training facility in Everett. The building is being leased by Snohomish County to the college. The center could begin offering training to the region’s aerospace companies as early as this fall.
Aerospace training in the state has become a hot topic as industry observers worry about the future of the Boeing Co. in the Puget Sound region. The company is looking at sites for a second production line for its 787 Dreamliner jet. The factors that will play a role in that decision include business costs and the availability of a trained work force, Scott Carson, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said on Thursday.
Although the state has more than 83,000 aerospace workers, there has been some concern in the industry about Washington’s rapidly aging aerospace work force and the state’s ability to replace retiring workers with skilled ones.
The Paine Field training center will coordinate training efforts for the state’s 650 aerospace companies. Edmonds Community College will work with both Spokane and Everett community colleges to provide training.
“What’s new with this training center is how closely and quickly we’ll be working with partners and listening to industry to teach particular procedures and skills that are needed now,” said Jack Oharah, EdCC president.
An effort to establish an aerospace center died during the 2009 Legislature. However, in July, Snohomish County and the Aerospace Futures Alliance announced a plan to go forward with a training facility.
Edmonds Community College will renovate the 30,000-square-foot Paine Field facility, a former aerospace manufacturing site that has large sections contaminated with hazardous materials. The county will count renovation expenses toward lease payments.
The community college also will be responsible for providing personnel, equipment and materials for the training center. Reps. Jay Inslee and Rick Larsen, D-Wash., are working to secure $500,000 from the federal government to equip the center, Michele Graves, spokeswoman for the college, said in an e-mail. And Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, D-Wash., also are working to land funds for the center from the Federal Aviation Administration.
In September, a group of more than 20 industry and education leaders plan to tour a similar training center in Wichita, Kan. That center was also established by a collaborative effort of local leaders in government, business and education and, to date, has received more than $49 million from federal, state and county governments as well as private industry to support the training, research and development, facilities and equipment.
Herald politics reporter Jerry Cornfield contributed to this report.
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