GOED board OKs $636,636 WIN award to expand TMCC diesel and heavy‑equipment training

The Governor's Office of Economic Development board on May 14 approved a WIN (Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada) grant to Truckee Meadows Community College to expand its heavy‑equipment and diesel technician training capacity.

GOED's director for workforce development, Elaine Silverstone, presented the TMCC application describing a data‑driven gap in Nevada’s technician workforce and a request of $636,636 to add instructional capacity, updated hydraulics and diagnostics modules, tooling and infrastructure upgrades. Dr. Natalie Brown of the Nevada System of Higher Education said the proposal was developed with industry partners — including McCandless Truck Center, Empire Cat Southwest and CORE Rochester — and aligned to state workforce priorities.

Jeffrey Alexander, TMCC president, said tuition and registration for associate programs generally run about $2,000 plus materials, while some certificate pathways cost substantially less and TMCC can award scholarships that reduce student out‑of‑pocket costs for roughly a third of eligible students. Board members asked about student costs and program completion; TMCC explained that some certificates can be completed in one to two semesters and that scholarship funding helps retention.

Board members voiced support for using the WIN fund to address immediate industry demand and approved the request by voice vote. GOED staff said the award aims to close a pipeline gap for occupations projected to grow faster in Nevada than nationally and to strengthen pathways into higher‑wage technical careers.