H2C Announces $200,000 Education and Workforce Development Partnership

​Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C) is pleased to announce a $200,000 investment that will strengthen higher education in the region while developing tomorrow’s workforce. Gifts of $50,000 each are part of separate partnerships with Washington State University Tri-Cities, the Columbia Basin College, the Washington State STEM Educational Foundation, and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
 
“One of our six Values is Make It Better,” said Carol Johnson, H2C President and Program Manager. “We are tremendously fortunate to have great education institutions in the Tri-Cities. This collaboration will help those organizations be the best they can be, as they prepare future workers to move the mission forward at Hanford, or any other career or industry they have a passion for.”
 
The partnerships go beyond monetary support, building on current programs (e.g., co-ops and internships) and support of the institutions, to encompass targeted areas of need and focus for H2C’s workforce development. Specifically, agreements with:
 
The Washington State University Tri-Cities will expose engineering students to principles of nuclear safety and business students with accounting and procurement practices necessary for government contracting.
 
The Columbia Basin College supports curriculum that equips students with transferable skills in project management, radiological protection, instrumentation and controls, operations, and safety and health.
 
The Washington State STEM Educational Foundation supports in-classroom programs that expose students to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, while identifying what additional skills are needed to ensure students are highly competitive job applicants.
 
The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce will support efforts to map current workforce development initiatives in our community to highlight gaps relative to H2C workforce needs and career opportunities.
 
“At H2C, our most important goal is to be the solution today for a better tomorrow,” Johnson said. “We do that every day through our important work on the Hanford Site, but also through partnerships like this with community organizations whose work and positive impact will be felt far beyond our community and for generations to come.“