The Governor’s Office has announced that Miles Community College, in collaboration with Chief Dull Knife College, will receive a POWER grant award of $494, 562 to assist Colstrip, and other Eastern Montana communities affected by the coal-related layoffs, with workforce planning and training.
“We must ensure that Colstrip and other coal-impacted communities remain vibrant and viable areas of our state,” said Governor Bullock in a statement released by the Governor’s Office. “This opportunity to help Montanans be successful in a diversified economy will further stabilize and continue to strengthen the region’s economy now and into the future.”
“MCC is excited to partner with CDKC to offer training opportunities in Colstrip and the surrounding area and help provide a diverse economy,” MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein commented about the award. “As local colleges, we are eager to help in anyway we can and partner with local leaders and SEMDC to ensure a smooth transition and retraining opportunities.”
In 2017, Governor Bullock announced that Montana would receive $2 million through the POWER grant program to increase workforce training in these communities. MCC, along with Dawson Community College and MT-AFL-CIO received first round POWER grant awards.
