“Every out-of-state job corps graduate, every Wyoming student, offers the State of Wyoming an opportunity to broaden and deepen its talent pool. And in so doing, bolster economic development efforts.”

This was the message Cathleen Cline, Business & Community Liaison for Wind River Job Corps, offered to the Governor-appointed Wyoming Workforce Development Council at their May meeting. Attendees included business and industry leaders from Gillette to Casper, Riverton to Rock Springs, Cody to Cheyenne, Evanston to Laramie and all parts in between. Construction, energy, real estate, banking, media, oilfield services, mining and weather science were represented at the meeting, as well as numerous state agencies ranging from family and vet services, to education providers.

Wind River Job Corps provided a comprehensive presentation center’s capabilities to support the states workforce-building needs. Attendees learned about the general framework and mission of job corps – to help break cycles of poverty, give youth a fighting chance at economic success and build a workforce. The curricula of the eleven trades of Wind River – truck driving, heavy equipment operations and mechanics, welding, electrical, building construction, carpentry, petroleum technology, office administration, healthcare and hospitality – were provided, helping participants to understand positions for which graduates are well-qualified.

Cline surmised that the majority of students at WRJC come from Wyoming or Colorado. And most will gravitate back to their home territories, “unless they have a high quality, good paying job available here in Wyoming.”