NEWS RELEASE
GREAT LAKES BOAT BUILDING SCHOOL
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Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS) is one step closer to completing their Enhancing Education with Equipment campaign after receiving a $15,000 grant from Enbridge. The “Fueling Futures'' grant will help GLBBS obtain the equipment needed to expand their educational offerings and provide new certification opportunities to students.
Enbridge’s “Fueling Futures'' grant aims to energize and support partnerships that strengthen the safety, vibrancy, and sustainability of communities. They offer financial support to community based safety services, educational organizations, social service agencies, indigenous communities, and more. GLBBS was selected as a grant recipient because of their work to “empower people to achieve their full potential” through their hands-on, technical training. The school also plays a big role in financially supporting their local economy. A recent economic impact study by LSSU’s School of Business indicated GLBBS currently has an Annual Detailed Economic Impact of $2.81 million while supporting 30 jobs in the community. “Enbridge is proud to support and partner with vocational and trades programs.” says Lauren Brown, Community Engagement Advisor for Enbrdige. “GLBBS is a wonderful reflection of the boating heritage that is an important piece of culture in the Les Cheneaux area and a treasured gem in the community.”
Currently, GLBBS offers two certification programs focusing on boat building and marine technician training. A “Marine Electrical and Electronics Technology” course will be added to the school’s programs beginning next year, allowing students to obtain new certifications in this high demand field of work. New marine equipment and technology are required to launch this program and will also allow GLBBS to offer higher level Mercury certifications.
To obtain the equipment needed for these new training programs GLBBS launched the Enhancing Education with Equipment (EEE) campaign, with a goal of raising $850,000 in either monetary or equipment donations. Thanks to the grant received from Enbridge, GLBBS has reached $776,429 (or 91%) of their goal. “Providing our students with the latest in marine equipment and technology is an ongoing challenge for us to adequately prepare them for the nuances they will face in the marine industry,” states Nikki Storey, GLBBS President. “We appreciate Enbridge supporting our students with this Fueling Futures grant. The equipment we purchase will not only help this year’s graduates but future classes too.”
If you would like to support the EEE Campaign or learn more contact Tom Coates by email or call 906-440-3978.
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