The Alaska Contractor: Fall 2006

Statewide need
Given the steadily growing population
of Alaska, proponents of the
Anchorage Construction Academy
see it as a vital idea that can be replicated
in other regions around the
state. AGC’s Cattanach said the crucial
thing is to get the right people
together to plan for the future. “The
model we’ve developed, connecting
trained workers with employers, will
hopefully be exported to other school
districts next year,” he said.
Given the
steadily growing
population of
Alaska, proponents
of the Anchorage
Construction
Academy see it as
a vital idea that
can be replicated
in other regions
around the state.
Cattanach acknowledges that
growing the program will take some
cultivation of political support in Juneau.
”Preliminary discussions have
already occurred with the administration
to include money for an extended
version of the program in next
year’s budget,” he said. “After that, it’s
a matter of working with legislators
to make sure that the proposal gets a
fair hearing.”
Comeau says ASD “absolutely”
plans to help push for expanded
training possibilities.
“Dick Cattanach led the way during
the last session and Rick Rios (of
King Career Center) and I and our
school board lobbied extensively,” she
said. “We are very excited about this
opportunity, and we must show that
this is successful, and hopefully we
will receive funding to continue this
collaborative effort.”
Robert Howk is a freelance writer
who lives in Anchorage.
Fall 2006 The Alaska CONTRACTOR 55