Western Wyoming Community College has been awarded over $2.6 million dollars through round 2 of the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) grant. According to a press release from the Governor’s office, Governor Gordon launched WIP in 2021 to modernize and focus Wyoming’s efforts to develop a resilient workforce and economy. The effort aims to better align Wyoming’s economic development agenda by increasing collaborations between state entities and ultimately
local partners. The partnership involves the University of Wyoming, the state’s community colleges, Wyoming Business Council, and Department of Workforce Services with an emphasis on developing innovative solutions that support and enhance Wyoming’s economy, workforce, and sources of revenue.
“These funds will help us to expand and continue our efforts to build a well-trained workforce of the future in high-wage and high-growth fields,” Governor Gordon said. “This is good news for our citizens, communities and businesses, which will all benefit from this critical effort to align education and workforce development.”
“Western has the opportunity to expand program offerings to our service area,” said Amy Murphy, Dean of Outreach and Workforce Development & Interim Dean of Enrollment Management. “Additions such as cyber security and a substation program. We will be the only one with a power line and substation program in the state.”
The offerings go hand in hand with the development of new technology in the state including southwest Wyoming.
“There will be an Electrical and Instrumentation program in the Evanston area,” Murphy added. “Because of the addition of the Natrium site in Kemmerer they are going to be bringing on so much more in the labor force that we wanted to offer more to help with the incoming work.”
According to Murphy, WWCC is still in the planning stages for the substation program but will likely follow suite with a class size of 15.
“This is so they do not have to wait to get on equipment,” she explained. With the Electrical and Instrumentation program we will start off with ten and grow to 15. The Cybersecurity program will have 22 spots.”
Murphy also stated that WWCC is working on software development in collaboration with the University of Wyoming and also expanding the ability of high school students to earn college credits concurrently from WWCC.
