NCW Tech Alliance launches four-year energy workforce pathway project

WENATCHEE — NCW Tech Alliance and the Apple STEM Network have launched a four-year initiative aimed at connecting North Central Washington students with education and career opportunities in energy, utilities, industrial technology and infrastructure.

The Future Ready Energy & Industrial Technology Pathways Project, known as FREIT, will run from 2026 through 2030. The Port of Quincy, Chelan County Public Utility District and Port of Moses Lake are regional partners supporting the development of a coordinated education-to-workforce pathway.

Organizers said the project is intended to address a gap between regional workforce needs and the number of students earning credentials after high school.

According to information provided by NCW Tech Alliance, 68% of family-sustaining entry-level jobs in North Central Washington require education or a credential beyond high school. Energy and industrial technology sectors are projected to have more than 14,000 openings annually, while approximately 34% of local students are on track to earn postsecondary credentials within eight years of graduating from high school.

“North Central Washington is growing in energy, industrial technology and infrastructure, yet many of our young people cannot access these high-wage careers because their awareness is low, training options are limited, and gaps in preparation leave promising students stranded,” said Dr. Sue Kane, CEO of NCW Tech Alliance. “Future Ready Paths are designed to change that by aligning education, training and employer partnerships so local talent can move directly into the quality jobs our region is creating.”

Over the next four years, the project will bring together employers, school districts, career and technical education programs, postsecondary institutions and community organizations to coordinate credential options with occupations in demand in the region.

The project will also map existing education and training opportunities and connect high school coursework, dual-credit programs, certificates and degrees with employer-supported experiences, including internships, job shadows and apprenticeships.

Employers participating in the project will be able to identify technical skills needed for current and emerging occupations and work with education and training partners on workforce preparation.

“Students while in school are faced with the issue of you don’t know what you don’t know,” said Curt Morris, president of the Quincy Port District. “FREIT can show local students the career opportunities that exist right here in their community. Careers with competitive starting wages, opportunities for advancement, and a path to live and work where they love. Helping students find a career path is why the Port District made the decision to help fund a very worthwhile program.”

For students and families, organizers said the project is intended to make education and career pathways easier to understand and navigate.

NCW Tech Alliance, a nonprofit organization founded in 1999, provides workforce development, technology adoption and entrepreneurship programs in North Central Washington.

The Apple STEM Network is a regional partnership of K-12 schools, higher education institutions and community organizations led by the North Central Educational Service District and NCW Tech Alliance.