NIC plays key role in economic development

Community colleges have moved into positions of prominence in economic and workforce development activities nationwide. Historically, employers looked to colleges as a source of trained workers, including graduates of both professional-technical and general studies programs. More recently though, the role of community colleges, in economic development, has expanded and includes other business enhancing activities.

North Idaho College is committed to improving the economic vitality of the region. We do this by providing a trained workforce, designing and delivering specialized training for businesses and through small business development.

Providing a well-trained workforce is the product of all that we do, whether credit or non-credit programs, in both professional-technical or general studies areas. How and when they enter the workforce is up to the student. Students can choose programs for almost immediate entry into the workforce through our short duration certificate programs or take advantage of occupation specific courses at the Workforce Training Center. Other students opt to spend more time in college to pursue longer duration certificate programs or associate's degrees. Many of our students will choose to wait even longer to begin their careers as they complete degrees at other institutions. While they are delaying their entry into the workforce, they are also gaining additional education and skills that will be valuable to their eventual employers.

This is a very dynamic situation which tends to have a direct relationship to the business climate and economy. In good economic times, students tend to choose routes that provide the quickest way into the workforce. In difficult times, they will take the opportunity to continue their training and education for longer periods as they wait for jobs to come available. By providing multiple duration programs, NIC allows students to make decisions that fit their specific life circumstances.

Speaking of employers, NIC has a long history of providing specialized training for companies relocating to the area as well as local companies that need our help. The training can be 100 percent customizable based on the needs of the employer. Examples of training provided to employers include leadership skills, welding, conversational Chinese, blueprint reading, math, soldering skills, first aid/CPR, hydraulics, log scaling and much more. Equally impressive are the companies we have worked with. You might recognize many of them. Buck Knives, Kimball Office, Ground Force Manufacturing, Empire Airlines and Coldwater Creek are just a few of the more than a dozen companies we've helped since 2007. And, in many cases the employer qualified for funding through Idaho's Workforce Development Training Fund which pays up to $2,000 per employee for job skill training. NIC's apprenticeship programs in plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems continue to thrive. If an employer or employee needs specialized training, NIC can provide it.

Helping businesses thrive and grow is the mission of NIC's Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Small businesses account for 70-80 percent of new jobs created in the business sector. It just makes good sense to find ways to help small businesses survive and then flourish. The Idaho SBDC provides business coaching and training under a U.S. Small Business Administration grant matched by state funds. The service is delivered through no-cost confidential coaching, low-cost workshops and free resources. NIC's center has a strong record of success. In 2009 and 2010 combined, it helped save more than 200 jobs, created 283 new jobs and accounted for more than $19 million of increased revenue through its work with small businesses in our region. Beyond the numbers are the success stories of companies such as Laughing Dog Brewery in Sandpoint, Bullet Tools in Hayden, Caruso's Deli in Post Falls and Comfort Keepers of North Idaho.

NIC's Idaho SBDC is among the smallest regional offices in the nation, yet it was recognized in 2009 as one of the top 10 out of the more than 1,000 regional offices nationwide. In a time when the economic slump continues to create high unemployment rates and bankrupt businesses, North Idaho College's Idaho Small Business Development Center is a crucial resource in the region's economic recovery.

NIC is proud of the role we play in our region's economic success. But, we are always open to suggestions on new and innovative ways to help business and industry succeed. If you have an idea or a proposal, let me know through the link below.

Priscilla Bell, Ph.D., is president of North Idaho College. For comments on this column, email her at PresidentsColumn@NIC.EDU.