A $14,000 price tag might seem high for just six months of training, but community leaders applauded Miller’s recent announcement.
“Organizations like these are training people to keep our economy moving,” said Vancouver Mayor Tim Levitt, who attended the formal launch of the rail academy in April.
Larry Paulson, retired former leader of the Port of Vancouver, said the program will help prepare workers for jobs that could open up as a result of rail expansions at the port and around the region. Paulson now sits on the International Air and Hospitality Academy’s board.
Paulson said he sees parallels between the Northwest Railroad Institute and Miller’s last big announcement: The Northwest Renewable Energy Institute.
That program, founded in 2009, was created in response to a growing need for people to maintain wind-energy turbines. Demand for wind-energy jobs has not quite matched initial projections, but Miller said many graduates have been able to use the same skills to find work on cell towers. The cell phone industry has been hiring as it upgrades to faster network speeds.
Terry Keene, a retired BNSF Railway Co. employee who now serves on the railroad school’s advisory council, said the need for railroad workers is clear.
“A degree from the Northwest Railroad Institute will soon be a ticket to an entry-level position in the railroad industry,” he said.
“This is a really big deal for the Northwest,” said Lisa Nisenfeld, president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council. Only two other schools in the country offer similar training programs, she said.
Northwest Railroad Institute (Based out of Vancouver’s International Air and Hospitality Academy) Cost to attend: $14,000 First class scheduled for July 15 www.nw-ri.com
