U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) visited with welding students and instructors on Wednesday at Great Falls College-MSU during his state-wide “Made in Montana” energy tour.
The 10 days on the road focus on the importance of producing local energy while promoting Montana’s future jobs in related fields including coal, oil, and natural gas.
Daines says Montana’s economic goal is to employ and maintain in-state workers with two-year degrees and certificates like the welding program offered at Great Falls College-MSU.
Daines says trade programs such as welding can offer students smaller amounts of personal debt after graduating while providing the training and knowledge necessary to find an in-state, high paying job right after college.
“I had the chance to meet a lot of students here today and they’re all from Montana, they want to stay here, they want to raise their kids here, they don’t want to leave. But they need to find a good job that pays a high wage and this is an example of that here today being prepared for that economy in the future,” said Daines.