Global contractor Bechtel says it will invest $1 million toward the expansion of skilled trades training programs at Wyoming’s Laramie County Community College and Western Wyoming College as the state looks to deepen its craft labor pool to meet intensifying regional demand.
“These are well-paying, stable careers that let people build a good life, often without leaving home,” said Bechtel Senior Vice President and Head of Construction Walker Kimball, who made the announcement during a workforce panel discussion at the Laramie County school, according to a Oct. 28 press release. “But it isn’t enough to tell young people these careers are great,” he added.
According to the release, the investment will help fund the procurement of equipment, faculty and training spaces at both colleges as part of Bechtel’s Build for More campaign, a statewide effort to create new pathways into electrical and pipefitting careers. Using digital storytelling to reach students “who may never have considered the trades” the campaign also parents and college educators as major influences on shaping student career paths.
“We have to give them more chances to see the work up close, then build real pathways to those jobs right here in the communities they call home,” said Kimball during the discussion, attended by students, parents and educators from both colleges,
The event, hosted with the Wyoming Innovation Partnership and the Wyoming Business Alliance, also featured Gov. Mark Gordon, who called Wyoming’s workforce “one of our greatest strengths.”
About the investment, Gordon added, “We want our people to have opportunities to build rewarding careers right here at home …This investment brings together industry, education, and government to expand training for in-demand skills and create more pathways for Wyoming residents to build their futures in our state.”
Bechtel’s Nuclear Shakeup in Wyoming
The launch of Bechtel’s Build for More campaign comes after the firm backed away from serving as EPC contractor on TerraPower’s estimated $4-billion Natrium nuclear project in the state. In a September statement, a Bechtel spokesperson said the contractor’s work to-date was performed under an earlier phase of its agreement with TerraPower.
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“As we considered the next phase of the project, Bechtel and TerraPower decided to move forward separately,” the spokesperson told ENR. Bechtel did not elaborate on the reason for the decision. TerraPower said it will rebid the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the project.
Bechtel was ranked No. 2 on ENR’s 2026 Top 400 list, reporting $19.5 billion in revenue.
Source: www.enr.com
