U.S. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin visited the Northwoods Friday to learn more about the recent expansions of the welding program at Nicolet Technical College. While there, she met with welding instructors and toured a lab with local students in the program. Nicolet announced earlier this year that they were expanding their welding lab to meet the workforce needs of area employers seeking skilled welders. By expanding the lab, Nicolet will have the ability to accept more students into the program, allowing students to complete their training in less time, preparing them for local positions in manufacturing.

Sen. Baldwin spoke with welding instructors and members of the Nicolet College Board of Trustees about the vision of the welding professions in the future and how recent grants from the state and federal governments have helped the college to upgrade its welding equipment and hire an additional instructor and academic advisor in the field. Senator Baldwin also spoke with current students in the welding program about their future goals upon program competition.

Of manufacturing, Sen. Baldwin spoke of how things have continued to change for the middle class, noting that workers and their families are feeling the effects of the country’s economic crisis with fewer jobs being available and severe competition within the industry. “Nicolet College is a wonderful example of a college that is working closely with area employers,” said Baldwin. Sen. Baldwin emphasized the important role that manufacturing played in recent debates and discussed her focus on increasing the job market in the industrial sector.