FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES
- Customized Training
Flathead Valley Community College provides customized training for area employers
and employees on a wide variety of topics ranging from problem solving to serving
safe foods. Communication, management, customer service, and computer applications
are the most frequently requested programs. During 2001, there have been 1,969 participants
in 82 training sessions with twenty-two different businesses and organizations. In
February 2001, FVCC dedicated the First Interstate Workforce Training Lab, a thirteen
station computer lab dedicated to training the current workforce.
- Flathead Valley Center for Business Information and Research
The Flathead Valley Center for Business and Information Research was established in
January 2001 with a $25,000 unrestricted gift from the First Interstate Bank. The
Center provides economic expertise to local business interests. Projects conducted
by the Center include: economic impact study for the Kalispell Regional Medical Center,
development of a regional purchasing power index, and a comprehensive economic impact
statement for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The Center
participates in the Montana Outlook Conference held each year by the University of
Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
- Business and Professional Development Workshops
Each month FVCC offers a series of professional development seminars to meet a wide
range of business training needs. In partnership with the Area Chambers of Commerce,
these workshops are listed in the monthly Chamber newsletters and Chamber members
receive a discount on tuition. In 2001, 109 workshops have been conducted with 1,518
participants.
- SUPERHOST
FVCC holds the state contract from the Department of Commerce for offering SUPERHOST,
a customer service training program. During 2000-2001, training was provided statewide
to 2,000 Montana travel industry managers and employees and over 400 Montana High
School students.
PARTNERSHIPS IN COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
- Community Management Team
FVCC is a partner in the Flathead Community Management Team working with human service
agencies to provide integrated services for individuals receiving training through
programs under the Workforce Investment Act
- Workforce 2020
FVCC is a partner with the Kalispell Area Chamber of Commerce, School District Five
and the Flathead Job Service in Workforce 2020. Workforce 2020 is designed to build
a competitive and sustainable workforce by addressing the issues of recruiting, training
and retaining skilled workers in the Kalispell area. The project has included a comprehensive
employer survey, the establishment of workforce academies where national and local
experts discussed challenging employment issues and successful employment practices,
and follow-up business roundtables.
- NorCor Project
FVCC is a partner with the University of Montana, Salish-Kootenai College and Ravalli
County Chamber of Commerce/EDA in the Northern Rockies Research Park and Technology
Corridor (NorCor) to generate new technology-based businesses. In association with
this effort, Flathead Valley Community College and Jobs Now, Inc. have formed a partnership
to pursue the establishment of the Valley Enterprise Center, a business development
center to support entrepreneurs, new and existing businesses, and business recruitment
and expansion. The Center would be a comprehensive one-stop business development
center located at Flathead Valley Community College.
- Business Recruitment Efforts
FVCC works with Jobs Now, Inc., the Flathead Job Service, Area Chambers of Commerce,
and local and county governments to assist in recruiting new businesses. The College
assisted in the establishment of a new, 1,000 employee, technology support call center
in Kalispell by providing computer training to prospective employees.
PREPARING THE FUTURE WORKFORCE
- Placement
During 1999 -2000, 216 students graduated from FVCC occupational programs. Ninety-seven
percent became employed with an average salary of $9.99.
- Responding to the Community
As a Cisco "local" academy FVCC offers training toward Cisco certification. Additionally,
training opportunities in Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
leading to Type 1 and Type 2 licenses through EPA Refrigerant Handlers Certification
Exam are offered at FVCC. Other new programs developed to meet local business and
industry needs include: Web Technology - Small Business Web Master, Web Server Administrator,
Call Center Specialist, Call Center Manager and Heavy Equipment Maintenance. FVCC
also provides Microsoft MOUS certification.
- Tech Prep
FVCC has been involved with Tech Prep for the past seven years, and for the past four
years has been the supervisory site for the Montana State Northwest Region. This
relationship involves 32 high schools and 10,600 high school students. Additionally,
FVCC has developed relationships with five higher education institutions in the region.
Three FVCC programs have been created within the Tech Prep guidelines and offer an
environment in which college and high school students can involved-Building Trades,
Heavy Equipment Operation, Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration.
Each of these programs were developed in response to community needs.
