MOSES LAKE — The North Central Educational Service District has stepped up its outreach efforts recently in Grant County, finding ways to bring businesses and schools together to build a skilled workforce in the community.

“The whole idea is to connect our students to local careers and the skills necessary for those careers, so that they're prepared, not just post-graduation, but during school,” said Cari Horning, career connected learning specialist with the NCESD. “There's a big push right now for apprenticeships and internships and job shadows, paid work experiences.”

The NCESD held an event March 4 at the Port of Moses Lake to encourage employers from various sectors to partner with local schools in getting students ready for careers in those sectors, Horning said.

“We were trying to hit all the industries: IT, manufacturing, food processing, health care, hospitality … Because our students are studying all those things in their (career and technical education) courses.”

Heather Fisher, manager of business development with Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships, also addressed the group about the need to promote apprenticeship programs as affordable and industrious means to grow a skilled workforce. The meeting underscored how apprenticeships benefit not only businesses by developing a tailor-made workforce but also empower students with a pathway to family-wage careers, according to a statement from the NCESD.

This spring, the NCESD will hold events at several Grant County schools to encourage career development, including two days at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center to give students practice at interviewing, a career panel March 26 at Moses Lake High School where industry professionals will share their career stories with students, an occupation exploration event April 15 at the Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District and a hands-on aviation tour for Grant Elementary students at the Port of Moses Lake in May.

March 21 is the Skyward Bound Women in STEM event at Quincy High School, the NCESD announced. Addressing the students will be Nikki Malcolm, CEO of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance; Priyansha Bagaria, CEO and founder of Loopr AI; Chelsea Olson, electrical design engineer at Stoke Space; and Katherine Jerald, executive recruiter in aerospace and defense with Elray Search. The event is not open to the public, but will be livestreamed on YouTube, the announcement said.

“We can educate the students as to what industry exists in their backyard, and educate the industry partners to the capacities of the students or graduates (in the community),” Horning said. 

One way to do that is to being students to see first-hand what potential employers do and give them a chance to decide if they want to be part of it, Horning said.

“The industry partners have really been amazing,” Horning said. “We've built some very strong relationships. And when you when we bring these students to tour, you can see if there's a student or two, or 10 who are interested. You can see it in their eyes.”

Joel Martin may be reached via email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.

    The North Central Education Services District has its main office, pictured, in Wenatchee but serves communities throughout North Central Washington, including those in Grant County. NCESD offers in excess of 140 programs to support K-12 education.
  

    Cari Horning, career connected learning specialist with the North Central Educational Service District, outlines ways that employers can reach their future workforce at a gathering at the Mort of Moses Lake on March 4.