138th Year... and still on the job!	Wednesday May 10, 2006

PUEBLO IS presented with a rare opportunity to prepare our young people with the education and skills that will be demanded by new jobs in the future. We have time to gear up for high-paying employment once the Pueblo Chemical Depot's weapons demilitarization project becomes fully operational.

It's going to take at least four years before the needed facilities are built to start the destruction of chemical weapons at the depot east of Pueblo. That means young people in middle and high school now could be working there -- if they meet the high standards set by the Department of Defense and Bechtel, the global construction firm serving as general contractor for the project.

Bechtel has briefed Pueblo Economic Development Corp. officials on plans for hiring well-trained, educated people to take on the task. The company expects employment to peak at about 1,400 when the facility is in full operation. Most of the jobs will require strong skills and excellent work habits. Many of them will need college degrees.

If Pueblo parents and educational institutions meet their responsibility to prepare our young people the right way, there's no reason those jobs cannot be filled by local residents. If not our people, others will come from near and far to take advantage of this golden employment opportunity.

"It's about time people begin to realize the magnitude of this program," said PEDCo Chairman Marvin Stein, who also chairs the depot's Reuse Authority that focuses on civilian uses for parts of the property outside the weapons stockpile area.

Mr. Stein said people have a chance now to start getting training and clean up any personal problems, such as drug and alcohol dependency, debt and other handicaps to qualifying for good jobs.

Besides requiring a good education, many of the jobs will be governed by Army regulations placed on the contractor. Military veterans, for instance, will have a leg up for jobs they are skilled to perform.

Construction work should start in 2007. Area crafts unions are gearing up with a career fair Monday at the Pueblo Convention Center to provide information on their apprenticeship programs.

In addition to the Chemical Depot, other major construction jobs are on the drawing board for the Xcel Energy Comanche Power Generating Station, the GCC cement plant, the Colorado State University-Pueblo Massari Arena and Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo's forensic unit.

Now is the time for Pueblo to develop the trained, educated work force that will be in demand not only for these projects, but for long-term economic development. Let’s get moving.