Port of ML to plan for workforce development

MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake is set to begin a concerted effort to ensure there are enough skilled people to work in Moses Lake following a request from several companies considering locating here.

“A couple of companies had a very specific request from the Port, can we show we can deal with jobs in the future,” said Richard Hanover, business development director for the Port of Moses Lake.

Hanover, speaking at a meeting of the Port of Moses Lake Commission on Monday, said that while he could not name the companies, the port was planning on meeting with company representatives and Employment Security Commissioner Dale Peinecke on Sept. 13 and then later that month with representatives of the Moses Lake School District, Big Bend Community College and Columbia Basin Job Corps to begin planning.

Hanover said one opportunity would allow the Port “to recruit several hundred jobs to the community.” The Port still needs to assess what kinds of skills are needed, but both Hanover and Port Executive Director Jeffrey Bishop said the jobs involved were largely skilled technical and manufacturing jobs.

“The Port has really tried to step up and address this, to make the process easier and more accessible, to have workers in the community ready to go,” Hanover said. “There are jobs in Moses Lake where they can make a good income.”

The port does not intend to duplicate efforts by the schools, the community college or Job Corps. Rather, Hanover said, the port wants to make sure that these institutions let students know about opportunities that are or may be available in Moses Lake.

Or, with Job Corps, reaching out nationwide to young people with skills looking for work, and connecting them to opportunities.

“We already dabbled in this with Mitsubishi and the bento box factory at Job Corps,” Hanover said.

Bishop said the skilled labor situation the port is facing is not unusual, not even in industrial powers like China.

“It’s a global situation. This is not a major calamity,” he said. “As I move around, I hear the same thing from everyone everywhere.”

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.