Grants, loans set for wind training center

HOWARD — The president of the Maroney Rural Learning Center said a recent pledge of more than $1 million in grants and loans will be used to assist with the construction of a training facility for wind-energy workers.

“It is really going to boost us to the next level of getting this thing up and getting it going,” said Randy Parry, the center’s president. “It’s moving along.”

Sen. John Thune’s office announced Monday that the Rural Development Office at the U.S. Department of Agriculture award- ed a $300,000 grant and approved a loan of $740,000 to the Heartland Consumers Power District. The money will be used to assist the Maroney Rural Learning Center in Howard.

Last year, the center signed a five-year agreement with Airstreams Renewables Inc. to host wind-energy workforce training once the center’s expansion efforts are complete.

Parry estimates the expansion will cost more than $6 million to construct. Although he wouldn’t comment on the total amount of money raised for the project, he said he’s hoping to see construction begin on the facility in May.

Administrators are scheduled to meet with general contractors and architects on April 8, when all bids for the project should be in, Parry said.

Ground was broken for the expansion of the center in September 2009.

“We’re looking forward to getting all this started,” Parry said.

Although not connected with Mitchell Technical Institute’s wind-energy program, Parry said the RLC’s training could be an asset to workers looking to further study wind energy.

“We’re thinking that it’s going to be an enhancement to the entire wind industry,” Parry said. “This gets them in the ground floor to get them jobs, and they hopefully would be able to come back into Mitchell Tech or other vocational schools to improve and increase their training.”

In a statement, Thune spoke positively about the USDA’s funding.

“With proper development, South Dakota can be a leader in the emerging wind-energy field,” Thune said. “This project will be of great economic benefit to the area, both in terms of job creation now and abundant clean energy in the future.”

Tags: our towns, wind training center, maroney rural learning center, news, howard