By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Like many industries, Case New Holland (CNH) is feeling the pinch of a lack of a workforce at their dealerships for farm equipment mechanics. CNH approached Barton Community College in Great Bend to begin a Top Tech program that would train students that could be hired by their dealerships.
Barton
Executive Director of Workforce Training Mary Foley said the college wants to
construct a new building to host the CNH program and house other existing
programs.
"The new facility would allow us to move our CDL program," said Foley. "The CDL testing site would move there so we can get that off the Kirkman Center parking lot. It would have three classrooms and two offices. It would allow room for agriculture lab work and corrals for animals."
Barton already offers a program that trains technicians who are currently
employed with a CNH dealership and need continuing education. The new program
would provide CNH with new technicians that have CNH Level 1 training and basic
farm machinery repair skills.
The new facility would be located on the east side of campus, just behind
Community Christian Church.
Barton estimates the facility will cost $3.6
million. The Kansas Board of Regents has offered the college a $1.8 million
grant, but requires a local match. Barton Foundation Executive Director Lindsey
Bogner is working to secure the remaining funds through donations and tax
credits.
"The state has designated $5 million in tax credits for all the community colleges," said Bogner. "Anyone that donates to a community college through 2025 is eligible for a 60% credit up to $500,000 per school. We have the opportunity to generate $833,000 for this project with donors."
The program will need a facility large enough to hold one piece of CNH
equipment and a classroom for 14 students. The program would be taught over the
course of two semesters. Barton hopes to start the program in the fall of 2023.