Columbia College Hosts Forestry Kickoff Event
Columbia, CA — A special ceremony was held this week at Columbia College to celebrate a $2.5 million state grant coming to the Greater Sierra Forestry Corps. The event was put on in partnership between the GSFC, Columbia College and Mother Lode Job Training.
The check ceremony featured presentations by Columbia College President Dr. Lena Tran, Sonora Mayor Mark Plummer, Mother Lode Job Training Executive Director Dave Thoeny, Sierra Resource Management owner Stacey Dodge, Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board Executive Director Blake Konczal, and others.
To address the issue of dead and dying trees in the Sierra Nevada, the grant will be used to train forestry fuel management technicians. Forestry technicians will receive training in wildland fuels management and equipment operation.
The educational program includes free housing for students, paid work experiences, and scholarships for tuition, books and required supplies.
Classes will start on August 28 and orientation will be held weekly on Tuesdays at noon at Mother Lode Job Training.
For more information, contact James Hanson at 209-588-1150.
Greater Sierra Forestry Corps is a partnership of private industry, workforce agencies, community colleges, organized labor, and environmental organizations working to bring in additional resources to train new workers. Partners include Mother Lode Job Training, Columbia College, Sierra Resource Management, Yosemite Adult School, CalFIRE Local 2881, National Federation of Federal Employees: Forest Service Council 2995, Associated California Loggers, Sierra Pacific Industries, TuCare, Tuolumne River Trust, Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions, and Sierra Resource Conservation District.
Trainees will be drawn from the region, including but not limited to, the counties of Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador and Mariposa.
