Washburn Tech recently received a $10,000 grant from the Ingersoll Rand Foundation, which will help fund the development of the new Midwest Training Center for climate and energy control technologies. The training center will offer a series of certifications collaboratively developed in conjunction with the National Coalition of Certification Centers.

The center’s goal is to provide existing and new workers the additional training needed to help current and new firms grow in the region. The MTC will achieve this goal by providing a system of connected and stackable credentials to existing technicians, to new students and to displaced workers for multiple programs and industry sectors. The center will also provide train-the-trainer opportunities to secondary and post-secondary instructors throughout the Midwest. 

 “Trane is honored to support Washburn Tech in the development of the Midwest Training Center,” said Keven Ward, the public sector consultant for Trane. “The training center will serve business and industry throughout the Midwest region by producing trained employees with nationally recognized certifications, and to provide access to short term training and certifications for incumbent workers as well.”

The MTC is scheduled to be open later this fall and certification programs will begin the first week of December. Washburn Tech leaders anticipate over 30 emergent workers will be trained in industry specific certification programs by the end of January 2013. To learn more about the Midwest Training Center please visit www.washburntech.edu.