Empowering the future of power
May 6, 2026 – Flip a switch and the light comes on. But how? It was a lightbulb moment for SkillSource students from Wenatchee and Othello last week as the abstract idea of a job in the trades turned into a visible reality. They went behind the scenes in Grant County to see exactly what — and who — it takes to power and build a community.
At the Grant County PUD Energy Career Day, the scale of the operation was the first big surprise. Many students hadn’t realized how much the PUD actually manages until they were standing at the stations talking directly with the crews. They handled specialized equipment, felt the weight of high-voltage cables, and tested their grip strength against the physical demands of the work. The hands-on access made the information easy to digest. For at least one student, the PUD went from being just a name on the side of work vehicles to a place to pursue an apprenticeship into an incredible career.
The students explored other pathways for training in the trades at Columbia Basin Job Corps. Community Relations Liaison Susan Mann shared stories of graduates who took this debt-free route into fields like IT and the skilled trades, immediately earning salaries over $100,000. This piqued the interest of SkillSource students. Job Corps programs are for people ages 16-24 — Mann encouraged people to apply up to the day before their 25th birthday — and while programs can last two years, many students complete their certifications in as little as ten months.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Wildland Fire Academy. This program allows them to earn wages while they train, and because Job Corps covers living expenses, many graduates exit their certification programs with as much as $30,000 in savings.
Student leaders Gavin and Anthony walked the SkillSource group through the dorms and dining areas, explaining the reality of the daily routine — consistent mornings, nighttime curfews, and the discipline required to stay focused. Their advice was simple: avoid the drama and remember that you get out what you put in. To see what that looks like in practice, SkillSource students headed to the demo stations. They put on protective eyewear and handled trowels to get a feel for plastering, masonry, and carpentry. Some tried virtual reality industrial painting, while others watched utility poles being painted from the basket of a blue cherry picker.
When a student moves from discussing equipment with a PUD lineman to handling a tool at Job Corps, the metaphorical switch finally flips. The curiosity about how a community functions becomes a tangible plan for how to build it. Grant County PUD and Columbia Basin Job Corps are essential partners in this work, opening their doors so a new generation can find the spark they need to power our region’s future.
