MOSES LAKE — A one-year class to help train people to work in the data center sector of the computer industry will be offered beginning this fall at Big Bend Community College. Big Bend officials worked with managers at data centers located in Grant County to design the curriculum.

“Students can enroll and earn the ‘network support specialist certificate of accomplishment’ or the ‘systems administration certificate of achievement’ at Big Bend,” wrote BBCC director of communications Matt Killebrew. “Completion of these certificates and additional work-based learning will provide students with the skills needed to enter this high-demand field.”

College officials worked with employees from Intuit, Microsoft, Oath, NTT Data, Sabey Data Centers and Vantage Data Centers, all located in the Quincy area. “The collaboration has resulted in a specialized one-year program that will prepare students for entry-level data center operations,” Killebrew wrote.

“We are working closely with the data centers to customize our credentials to train students with the skills they need,” said Tom Willingham, BBCC computer science specialist. “Students who successfully complete this program will be equipped with the knowledge to gain entry-level employment” at a data center.

“Today’s hyper-scale cloud data centers can contain hundreds of thousands of computer servers linked by networks serving individuals, businesses, organizations and governments worldwide,” Killebrew wrote.

The tech companies were attracted to Quincy and Grant County by “the area’s abundant and affordable electrical power,” Killebrew wrote. Grant County also had affordable land (and still does) which continues to make the county an attractive spot for data center expansion. That means workers who qualify for those jobs will continue to be in demand, Killebrew said.

Follow-up programs are offered for students who want to learn more about data center operations and the skills needed, Killebrew said. Additional industry certification programs are available. Big Bend also offers “a variety of directly relevant two-year degrees” in the field, he said.

Enrollment in the one-year program is limited. Students who have completed their financial aid applications may be eligible for financial aid or work-study programs, Killebrew said. “Some of the area data centers are working toward providing targeted financial assistance and on-the-job training and experience opportunities."

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.