In an effort to address labor shortage and training needs in the Williston area, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced an initiative with four North Dakota colleges, including Williston State College, to create a plan to train a new labor force that is necessary for the energy development in the state.

Dorgan announced the plan at a roundtable discussion with area leaders in Williston on Monday. He said the "Western Energy Workforce Consortium" is a partnership between Bismarck State College, Dickinson State University, Minot State University and WSC to provide training for jobs in the state's energy industry.

Dorgan, who is Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, plans to secure two years of funding for the initiative in his annual appropriations bill that he writes.

Dorgan's plan calls for WSC and Bismarck State to work together to boost training in carpentry, heating/cooling and welding - areas in demand by the energy industry.

Dickinson State and Minot State will host symposiums to study and evaluate short- and long-term labor needs for North Dakota and make recommendations on how to meet them. "To maximize the potential of the energy industry in North Dakota, we need a trained workforce to make it happen," Dorgan said. "Using the skills of the four colleges will allow us to develop plans to recruit and train the workers we need in our state's energy sector."

The initiative between the colleges wasn't the only announcement regarding Williston and the surrounding community.

"This year again I've written in the funding for the Williston Radar," Dorgan said. "They've tried to close it since 1999. This is my ninth year of writing in funding to keep the Williston Radar open and I got that bill through the Appropriations Committee last week."

Dorgan also said he is asking for $1.7 million for the pumping plant in Williston this year and he will be marking that up in a couple of weeks. He said there is an obvious need for more capacity and a larger pumping plant to prevent surge flooding.

Dorgan said he will try to gain more funding for mosquito control in Williston as well as getting a runway extension for Sloulin Field International Airport.

"You need some runway extensions here in Williston," Dorgan said.

Dorgan went on to say he is trying to get funding for Amtrak restored.

"The president has underfunded that to the tune of about $400-$500 million," Dorgan said. "We're going to try to add that back because Amtrak is a very important part of our transportation system. We have well over 100,000 North Dakotans that use Amtrak every year and it's a big deal here in North Dakota."