FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gregory Bortolin,
Director of Communications
grbortolin@goed.nv.gov (775) 687-9917
February 23, 2023
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Western Nevada College (WNC), in collaboration with Redwood Materials, will develop and pilot a training program for new hires assigned to battery disassembly. The trainings will be offered on the Redwood Materials campus utilizing WNC’s Mobile Manufacturing Lab. WNC will hold an event Monday in its library in the Dini Building beginning at 5:30 p.m. to provide details about the program.
“The new training program with Redwood Materials is another example of how important WNC’s Mobile Manufacturing Lab has been in supporting industry’s workforce training needs,” said Stacey Bostwick, GOED Director of Workforce Development. “We were able to use Workforce Innovations For The New Nevada (WINN) funds to help develop this mobile lab and with some additional dollars are able to add training functionality in an extremely efficient manner.”
GOED will add $99,999 to the current budget to accommodate this new skilled training program. The three-day training sessions will initially accommodate 32 students between now and June. This pilot will serve as the foundational coursework for a credit-based program aligned with skills needed for entry and career advancement in the battery industry. WNC has plans to offer expanded curriculum in the fall. As each phase of the curriculum is completed, it will transition to credit-based and will eventually be aligned with the Skills Certificate, Certificate of Achievement and possibly an Associate pathway.
“Western Nevada College appreciates the support of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development for the continued development of emerging workforce programs,” said WNC President Kyle Dalpe. “WNC is excited to be a premier training institution that can rapidly respond to employer needs, such as those in the regional battery recycling industry.”
###
About the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Created during the 2011 session of the Nevada Legislature, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nevada Legislature and the Governor’s Office to restructure economic development in the state. GOED’s role is to promote a robust, diversified and prosperous economy in Nevada, to stimulate business expansion and retention, encourage entrepreneurial enterprise, attract new businesses and facilitate community development.