NMCC’s welding lab reopened, commish visits
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The welding lab in the Mailman Trades Building at Northern Maine Community College, which is utilized by students in several of the trade and technical occupation programs, was officially reopened Dec. 2 at an event that featured Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner George Gervais.
The lab has undergone a $300,000 transformation over the past five months. It was funded, in part, through a bond issue supported by Maine voters.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
A METAL-CUTTING — rather than a ribbon-cutting — ceremony was held Dec. 2 to reopen the welding lab in the Mailman Trades Building at Northern Maine Community College. The lab has undergone a $300,000 transformation over the past five months. It was funded, in part, through a bond issue supported by Maine voters. Participating in the event were, from left: NMCC President Timothy Crowley, Rick Taggett, welding instructor; Kurtis Gagnon of Frenchville, welding student; and Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner George Gervais.z
The space was redesigned with a new layout to better address the student and instructor training needs in the area. Work on the project began in July and was completed by local contractor A&L Construction of Presque Isle.
The scope of the project included design and renovation of the electrical and mechanical systems to improve indoor air quality and to increase energy efficiency. In addition, several new welders and new welding booths have been installed in the facility to ensure students are trained to best meet the needs of employers across the state.
“The manufacturing business in this area can grow, and we feel we have an important role to play in it,” said NMCC President Timothy Crowley. “We believe that Aroostook County has an opportunity to generate new opportunities for us. Across the parking lot here is our precision metals manufacturing program, and the relationship between what we’re doing here and what we’re doing across the parking lot is really important.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
DELIVERING REMARKS at a “Conversation and Coffee with the Commissioner” event recently on the Northern Maine Community College campus was Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner George Gervais. Business and community leaders were invited to visit with Gervais to share their thoughts about moving the economy of the region forward and hear his thoughts about Maine’s job market.
“In the last four months we have talked with four companies that are interested in being in Aroostook County and interested in either assembling or building boiler systems. The problem is that we don’t have any certifications available for individuals working in this industry and we need to have those certifications if those companies are going to come to this region,” he said. “That comes in the welding process that we need to teach and expand into, so we will. We will expand our welding options to include a certification for pipe welders, and improve certification in other areas involved so we can support the development of this business and industry that has the potential to come here. That — combined with what we’re doing with precision metals manufacturing, which is the effort to create better pieces that can be used to make any piece of equipment or machinery that we need — can greatly benefit our institution and the students that we have.”
Crowley said both the college and The County needs to be “aggressive” in attracting new businesses.
“We cannot sit and wait for companies to come to us; we need to go get them, and when they say they want to be part of Aroostook County, we need to have somebody knocking on their door, holding their hand, and taking them through the process,” he said. “We are trying to do that. Our ability to respond to what industries are looking for is critical at this point. Our role in economic development has always been to sit back and provide the training that’s needed as companies ask for it. That has to change. Our role now has to be more proactive, more aggressive, and we have to be training the workforce of tomorrow, not yesterday. This lab is a step in that direction.”
As part of the welding lab’s official reopening, NMCC also hosted “Conversation and Coffee with the Commissioner.” Business and community leaders were invited to visit with Gervais to share their thoughts about moving the economy of the region forward and hear his thoughts about Maine’s job market.
“This state-of-the-art facility represents an investment in the workforce of our region and the workforce of this state. Businesses across Maine recognize the importance of our community college system, and are stepping up to help. Just a few weeks ago, the Campaign for Maine’s Community Colleges announced it has raised $11.3 million from the private sector to support community colleges across the state,” said Gervais. “Maine’s community colleges play a huge role in preparing students for the jobs that will help revitalize our state economy. Despite what you hear, there are jobs out there; businesses are hiring. The issue is matching the necessary skills to the jobs that are available.
“We have a lot to be proud of in this part of the state, and to see firsthand this newly renovated, modernized and expanded welding lab, you now have one more great asset to help promote Maine’s economy,” he said. “This lab will serve as a key step for solving the skills set problem that we hear of way too often.”
Gervais, of Hampden, has family in Aroostook County. He has served as assistant commissioner, development program manager and business development specialist within DECD since 2008. Gervais has served as commissioner since April.
Prior to joining DECD, Gervais served as senior loan officer at Carteret Mortgage Corp. and Dedicated Mortgage Associates, LLC. He also founded Grill Concepts, Inc., and EVO, Inc. He holds a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Maine at Orono.
