MANDAN, ND – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony at Bismarck State College (BSC) today for its new Lineworker Training Facility. The facility’s construction is made possible through funds provided by the Trump Administration and the BSC’s 50-year partnership with the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC).
“As the son of a rural electric lineman, I have seen firsthand how important lineworkers are for North Dakota’s communities, and the opportunities available to those who pursue a career in this industry,” said Senator Cramer. “It is an honor to be a part of today’s ceremony, which is the culmination of a decades-long partnership aimed at increasing educational opportunities, aligning our workforce’s skills with the state’s economic needs, and steering federal funds to important programs like this where we can see a high return on investment.”
A career as an electrical lineworker offers the prospect of good wages, dependable and strong job demand, and the opportunity to work in any of the nearly 3,100 public utilities across the United States. The annual average wages for line installers in North Dakota are $79,590, and recent BSC graduates report a 90 percent placement rate with earnings up to $40 per hour.
Today’s event took place at the NDAREC / NISC campus in Mandan, North Dakota, which is part of the BSC’s polytechnic program. BSC is North Dakota’s only polytechnic institution, and fewer than 3 percent of colleges in the country are polytechnics. Since 1970, it is estimated more than 1,700 lineworkers have completed BSC’s lineworker program. Last August, the Trump Administration announced a $4 million grant to construct this new one-of-a- kind facility. It was matched with more than $1 million in local investment.
