Ontario’s mining education services provider NORCAT has obtained a substantial chunk of change to propel one of its training programs in Elko, Nevada.
Great Basin College (GBC), which hosts the Sudbury-based tech company’s training facility, is receiving over C$1.1 million from the Silver State’s “Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada” fund. Together, they have created the GBC-NORCAT Mine Skills Training (MST) school.
NORCAT uses conventional teaching methods combined with virtual reality, augmented reality and other technologies to educate students about various aspects of the mining industry. A collaboration agreement with the institution was initiated last month prior to the funding boost.
“It is great to finally see a partnership develop between NORCAT and GBC, the premier training institution for Nevada’s mining industry,” Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Authority Executive Director, Sheldon Mudd, said in a news release.
Mudd visited NORCAT’s Ontario facility back in 2017, was impressed by what he saw, and started putting the wheels in motion to get the educator’s training in Nevada.
Sneak Peek! This Is Mine Life went underground at @NORCAT's Underground Centre in Sudbury with the @edgefactor_ film crew for an epic adventure! Thanks to the whole NORCAT crew for showing us all the cool tech and innovation involved in your work.
Want to dive deeper? Check out… pic.twitter.com/ysFGvhGg6W
— This Is Mine Life (@This_Is_Mining) April 9, 2024
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Program expected to create 1,150 jobs
Through partnerships with major companies in Nevada like the Thacker Pass mine operator Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) and Nevada Gold Mines, the training initiative will help create well over a thousand jobs. Advanced exploration companies in the state, such as U.S. Gold Corp. (Nasdaq: USAU), may want to take advantage of the new training facility too.
“Our innovative GBC-NORCAT-MST partnership extends beyond a brick-and-mortar facility; it serves as a gateway to a world of cutting-edge techniques and unparalleled expertise,” NORCAT Chief Operating Officer Jason Bubba said in June.
Elko just wrapped up its annual mining expo: one of longest-running industry events in the United States. It has been ongoing since 1985. The event’s aim is to foster business connections among mining firms, suppliers, investors and other professionals.
This year’s sponsors included Epiroc, which opened up a new mining service centre in Elko last December; McEwen Mining Inc. (TSX: MUX), a company that bought a series of Silver State gold properties in April; and Orla Mining Ltd. (TSX: OLA), operator of the South Railroad project in the state’s Carlin gold trend.
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