Bechtel Invests $1 Million to Expand Skilled Trades Training in Wyoming

Engineering and construction firm Bechtel announced a $1 million investment on October 28, 2026, aimed at expanding skilled trades training at two Wyoming colleges and launching a statewide awareness campaign called “Build for More.” The initiative targets electrical and pipefitting programs at Laramie County Community College and Western Wyoming College, addressing a recognized workforce gap in the state.

College Partnerships Fund New Facilities and Mobile Training Units

The funding directs resources toward curriculum development, instructors, equipment, and training facilities across both institutions. The project introduces a pipefitting pathway that is entirely new to higher education in Wyoming. It also expands electrical training capacity, allowing more participants to complete their credentials entirely in-state.

At Laramie County Community College, the investment establishes dedicated training spaces designed for hands-on instruction in electrical and pipefitting trades, connecting graduates directly with local contractors and industry partners. Meanwhile, Western Wyoming College is expanding faculty and equipment capacity while deploying a mobile pipefitting training unit. This mobile unit brings hands-on instruction and career awareness directly to rural communities across Wyoming.

Bechtel announced the initiative during a panel discussion held at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne. The event featured Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, Laramie County Community College President Dr. Joe Schaffer, and Bechtel Senior Vice President Walker Kimball. The partnership was developed with support from the Office of Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and in collaboration with the Wyoming Innovation Partnership through the Wyoming Business Alliance.

Bridging the Awareness Gap Among Students and Teachers

The accompanying “Build for More” campaign attempts to shift public perception regarding vocational careers. New research commissioned by Bechtel revealed a sharp contrast between how adults view the trades and how high school students and teachers perceive them.

Bechtel Invests $1 Million to Expand Skilled Trades Training in Wyoming — Photo: contractormag.com

Survey data indicated that 89 percent of Wyoming adults view the trades favorably, with 60 percent considering them a first-choice career path and 83 percent reporting that the trades are respected locally. Adults also identified the trades as a superior route for job stability, early-career earnings, and entering the workforce with lower debt compared to traditional college degrees.

Yet, that sentiment fails to reach younger demographics. Nearly half of Wyoming high school students—47 percent—stated they have never really thought about a career in the skilled trades, and only 20 percent plan to enter a trade program, vocational program, or apprenticeship after high school. Furthermore, while teachers serve as students’ primary source of career guidance, only 28 percent view the trades as a first-choice career, with just 16 percent of teachers and 10 percent of students describing the trades as well paid.

“Skilled craft professionals build the infrastructure and energy projects that power communities, and the need for them keeps growing,” Walker Kimball, Senior Vice President, Head of Construction, Bechtel, said during the announcement. “These are well-paying, stable careers that let people build a good life, often without leaving home. But it isn’t enough to tell young people these careers are great. We have to give them more chances to see the work up close, then build real pathways to those jobs right here in the communities they call home. That’s what this effort is about.”

Bechtel has helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents since 1898.