PRESQUE ISLE – A course for pilot machinists at Northern Maine Technical College will become permanent following Congress’ approval last week of $850,000 for the program.

The pilot project, which started on a limited basis this fall, began in response to a need in the local manufacturing industry. Officials said that companies would be interested in moving to the region if there were a skilled pool of machinists in the region.

“We are extremely pleased to have been notified that this money is available,” Durward Huffman, NMTC president said in a prepared statement. “It will enable us to respond more fully to the pilot program that we initiated this fall, funded by the state.”

The Maine Legislature allocated $60,000 for the pilot program to offer free tuition and training to 10 students interested in the program. With that amount, however, only one-fifth of those who applied could be accepted into the program, according to Huffman.

The permanent metal manufacturing technology program will be open to all qualified applicants and will serve a significant number of dislocated workers in the region, according to local officials.

With the congressionally appropriated funds, NMTC plans to equip a laboratory to provide training on campus. Currently, training is offered at the Van Buren Technology Center.

The funds were secured during the last hours of the congressional session last week. The money was included in the $450 billion appropriations bill, according to an announcement by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

NMTC approached the senator for help in securing federal funding for the program, which was found through the federal Department of Labor’s Workforce Investment Action pilot and demonstration program account.

“This project represented a great deal of hard work, planning and vision on the part of NMTC and others in The County,” said Collins in her announcement.

“It’s my hope that training in the metal trades, an industry that desperately needs skilled employees, will give workers who’ve lost jobs in other fields a chance to start a new career and to stay in the area they call home, if that’s their preference,” said Collins.

The pilot program began last year when area economic development officials and business representatives met with Huffman to discuss the need for skilled metal-working and machine-tool operators. After subsequent sessions, it was determined the equipment used to teach these trades were very expensive.

Initially, local officials approached the state Legislature, knowing they probably wouldn’t receive the entire amount needed.