Submitted by the San Juan County Economic Development Council

The San Juan County Economic Development Council is pleased to announce the award of a Washington State Department of Commerce Work Start grant for a county-wide marine trades education program, which will be run in partnership with commerce, San Juan County, the Town of Friday Harbor, Skagit Valley College, the Port of Friday Harbor, Islanders Bank, the Northwest Workforce Council, Heritage Bank, and area marine businesses.

A highly competitive grant program, Work Start is designed to provide training to workers to address business expansion or loss of business to other states or countries. The funding granted to the EDC will facilitate the delivery of marine maintenance training to San Juan County workers through Skagit Valley College’s Anacortes campus, the Northwest Center of Excellence in Marine Manufacturing and Technology. Participants will receive training in Marine Maintenance Technology, including engine repair and marine electrical system repair. The training program will begin in April of this year.

For more information about the program or other EDC trades training opportunities, please visit the EDC’s website at www.sanjuansedc.org.

The EDC works to build an environment that helps business owners create jobs. We serve business: linking organizations and resources, providing information, rendering assistance and advocating for an improved business environment.