Gianforte, Manufacturers, Lay Out Ideas for Renewed Emphasis on Trades Education in Montana

Statement

Bozeman businessman and tech entrepreneur Greg Gianforte laid out ideas for a renewed emphasis on trades education at a roundtable in Missoula on Monday with Montana manufacturers. The event was held in conjunction with the 2016 Manufacturing and International Trade Day events in Missoula.

Gianforte is a Republican candidate for governor and will be rolling out a number of education related policy proposals in the month of May.

GIANFORTE: As I talk with business owners across Montana, I hear again and again, that they are having a hard time finding workers skilled in trades. We need carpenters, plumbers, electricians, welders, cooks and machinists. These are good paying, noble jobs that allow hard working Montanans to prosper in Montana.

Central to Gianforte's plan is the idea that Montana students need to be informed by their families, teachers, and counselors that trades education is a legitimate career path. Too often, students are led to believe that getting a 4-year degree is the only path to success.

Gianforte pointed out that there are, for example, more than 200 state certified apprenticeship programs. However, young people are struggling to find career opportunities in the state with Montana being last in the nation for millennial income.

GIANFORTE: There are many apprenticeship programs and training courses for trade occupations, yet our education system does not emphasize this as a path to success the same way it emphasizes going to a 4-year college. This needs to change.

The candidate also pointed out the need for the state to help form partnerships between educators, manufacturers, and private organizations to provide more programs to help Montana students into trade programs. He held up as an example the Gianforte Manufacturing Scholarship program. Working with the Commissioner of Higher Education, over 300 Montana veterans and lower income Montanans have benefited from these scholarships so far that provide 50% tuition assistance for welding and machining certificates at Montana two year campuses.

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