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By Dan McLean, The Burlington Free Press
Burlington Free Press Staff Writer
SOUTH BURLINGTON -- The Burlington Aviation Technology Center received a $1 million boost Monday in the form of a NASA grant secured by Sen. Patrick Leahy, the first step in raising $7.5 million to build an updated facility.
Leahy, D-Vt., lined up the first million in federal funds, which he hopes is "only a start." The program will help Vermonters land jobs with an above-average pay scale.
Burlington International Airport Director Brian Searles said the grant will pave the way for the additional funding.
"We're working on it. The first dollars are the hardest," Searles said of the task to secure the remaining $6.5 million. The $787 billion federal stimulus package passed earlier this year could prove to be a funding source, said Searles as he stood beside a parked, single-engine Cessna near a dilapidated hangar, used by Aviation Technology Center.
The aging structure, Searles said, is a World War II alert center that will likely be demolished in the next decade. A faded, rusted sign read: Warplanes Inc.
The Burlington Aviation Technology Center was certified in 1996, has three instructors, and teaches 30 students, 22 of whom are high school students, said Rick Sylvester, the program's director and founder.
Next year, he expects to teach 40 students. And, if the new center is built, 100 students could be taught. Sylvester says his program needs the multimillion dollar facility, designed by Burlington architects Freeman French Freeman Inc., because his portion of the aging hangar is too small.
"If I want to see growth, I need a new building," he said.
The program's students often "don't do well at all" in traditional high schools, Sylvester said. "They come to my program and they shine."
Josh King of Fairfax and Travis Garrett of Huntington, both 18, were two of the progam's students who attended the news event Monday morning. In addition to being impressed by the salary and the solid prospects of landing a job in sour economy, both enjoy the mixture of coursework and working with their hands. "Everything about it was so awesome," Garrett said.
Back at Mount Mansfield Union High School, by comparison, Garrett recalled learning things, like history, that he didn't think had practical applications. "We learned stuff and never used it," he said.
The students -- who ultimately can enter the work force as trained aviation mechanics -- learn 44 skill sets, derived from lessons that include welding, trigonometry, calculus, physics and electronics.
The center is one of 14 like it in the country, Sylvester said.
"You are preparing these students for the real world," Leahy said. "That's so important."
The education program trains high school and adult Vermonters for jobs "that could actually support a family," Leahy said. Wages start at $20 a hour in Vermont, or $41,600 year, Sylvester said. Outside of Vermont, the wages for these jobs are higher: about $25 an hour to start, or $52,000 a year, he said.
In 2007, the average Vermont wage was $36,323 and the average U.S. wage was $44,362, according to Labor Department data.
Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, who was on hand for the announcement, said the aerospace industry generates $2 billion for the state's economy each year. "This isn't just about educating youngsters ... This is an economic tool," Dubie said.
Contact Dan McLean at 651-4877 or dmclean@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com .
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Vermont Aerospace and Aviation Association (VAAA)
In partnership with Lieutenant Governor, Brian Dubie, Chair of the Aerospace States Association and the Vermont Aerospace and Aviation Association (VAAA), the Vermont Chamber of Commerce administers the VAAA and is committed to growing and promoting aerospace and aviation as key, high-growth sectors of the Vermont economy.
There are over 200 Vermont companies that thrive in the aerospace and aviation sectors of the Vermont economy. According to Smart Skies, commercial aviation in Vermont impacts 27,268 jobs and helps generate nearly $2 billion in economic activity in several industry categories, including: General Aviation, Commuter Aviation, Commercial Transport, Manufacturers, Industry Partners, Vendors and Contractors, Airports, Educational Institutions, Aeronautics and Aerospace.
To capitalize on this opportunity, Vermont Lieutenant Governor, Brian Dubie, the VAAA and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce are committeed to encourgaing and promoting economic growth and job creation in Vermont through:
- Economic, workforce development and legislative initiatives
- Scientific and educational partnerships and opportunities
- State-based efforts in federal aerospace policy development
- Quarterly VAAA Open House events for networking opportunities
To learn more, contact June Dobbins at jdobbins@vtchamber.com. | |
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