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The natural gas boom in our area has some people looking for work with the drilling companies.
Before they're hired they will have to learn the ropes.
The natural gas companies are already in Lycoming County, along with some other nearby counties.
What they need are workers, people who are trained and ready to get in on the ground level. That's exactly what one Penn College course is doing.
Jerry Cochenour of Wellsboro is getting a safety lesson while operating a piece of machinery near Williamsport. Like the other 14 students from Tioga County in the class, Cochenour is out of work and decided to find a job in the natural gas industry.
"A lot of us are looking for employment due to the economy and what not. This seems like a sure-fire thing," Cochenour said.
The course is called Fit For Natural Gas. The Penn College program trains students for entry-level positions in the gas industry, which, according to Jeff Lorson of Penn College, is ready to take off and will need local workers.
"They've got to gear up and ramp up quickly and with that, they have to bring workforce in with the skills that they need," Lorson explained.
Wade Davissaid he wants to find a job with a gas company and so does his grandfather. So the two are learning the skills they need to do the job.
"It's different, never thought I'd be going to school with my grandfather," Davis said.
Davis and the others found themselves taking turns in excavators and back-hoes, equipment they will need to be familiar with if they want to land a job.
"They use a lot of it for the gas companies with moving parts for the wells and they dig trenches to lay pipe," Davis added.
Throughout the four-week course not only will students get behind the controls of big machinery, they will also learn interviewing skills and resume building, so when they go for a job with one of the gas companies, they might have a better shot.
"They're going to bring gas representatives to us and they'll see what the training was about, probably give us a leg up," Cochenour added.
A leg up at a time when most if not all of the students are looking to find work they can count on.
"Many of these people have suffered those job losses and this is an opportunity for them to get into a growing field," said Lorson.
The course is free, paid for by state grants and donations from gas companies.
Penn College will be offering more natural gas courses for people in Bradford, Lycoming and Clinton counties.
For more information click on the link or head to your local Careerlink office.
Before they're hired they will have to learn the ropes.
The natural gas companies are already in Lycoming County, along with some other nearby counties.
What they need are workers, people who are trained and ready to get in on the ground level. That's exactly what one Penn College course is doing.
Jerry Cochenour of Wellsboro is getting a safety lesson while operating a piece of machinery near Williamsport. Like the other 14 students from Tioga County in the class, Cochenour is out of work and decided to find a job in the natural gas industry.
"A lot of us are looking for employment due to the economy and what not. This seems like a sure-fire thing," Cochenour said.
The course is called Fit For Natural Gas. The Penn College program trains students for entry-level positions in the gas industry, which, according to Jeff Lorson of Penn College, is ready to take off and will need local workers.
"They've got to gear up and ramp up quickly and with that, they have to bring workforce in with the skills that they need," Lorson explained.
Wade Davissaid he wants to find a job with a gas company and so does his grandfather. So the two are learning the skills they need to do the job.
"It's different, never thought I'd be going to school with my grandfather," Davis said.
Davis and the others found themselves taking turns in excavators and back-hoes, equipment they will need to be familiar with if they want to land a job.
"They use a lot of it for the gas companies with moving parts for the wells and they dig trenches to lay pipe," Davis added.
Throughout the four-week course not only will students get behind the controls of big machinery, they will also learn interviewing skills and resume building, so when they go for a job with one of the gas companies, they might have a better shot.
"They're going to bring gas representatives to us and they'll see what the training was about, probably give us a leg up," Cochenour added.
A leg up at a time when most if not all of the students are looking to find work they can count on.
"Many of these people have suffered those job losses and this is an opportunity for them to get into a growing field," said Lorson.
The course is free, paid for by state grants and donations from gas companies.
Penn College will be offering more natural gas courses for people in Bradford, Lycoming and Clinton counties.
For more information click on the link or head to your local Careerlink office.
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