Everyone from Aspen to Parachute is well aware that the shortage of skilled workers and programs in skilled trades isn’t new, but it’s becoming harder to ignore. This is precisely why Colorado Mountain College is expanding its investments in skilled trades facilities and programs. 

Here on the Western Slope, the demand for carpenters, welders, mechanics and other skilled professionals continues to grow, yet local employers, alongside entities like USC Labor Solutions in Grand Junction, report ongoing struggles to fill essential roles in construction, manufacturing, repair and maintenance. Pressure is also increasing in the automotive sector, with Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating the U.S. needs more than 67,000 new automotive technicians annually — far more than the current pipeline can provide. 

Though it takes time, commitment, and considerable resources to build additional capacity in skilled and industrial trades, CMC offers a hopeful future.  

Here at Colorado Mountain College Rifle, enrollment in our welding classes has held strong for decades. Our new automotive service technology program, launched in 2021, and carpentry program, launched in 2023, routinely have waitlists. The training is rigorous and the standards are high, but students in western Garfield County are ready for the challenge. As the faculty state in their motto, they intend to prepare students to be “job ready, day one.” 

Beyond the benefits to our local economy, workforce and communities. Take, for example, Mario, one of our recent graduates. Mario’s family has lived in the valley for five generations. School wasn’t always easy for Mario, as dyslexia created difficulties that compounded over time. During his junior year of high school, Mario dropped out.  

After hitting rock bottom following the pandemic, Mario realized the only direction to move was upward. In his words, “In the throes of that darkness, I found a flicker of determination. I realized that I had the power to reshape my future and that it was time to push forward.” 

Earning a high school diploma was Mario’s first goal. Just five weeks after stepping onto the CMC Rifle campus, Mario earned his GED.  He was on his way.  

With pride in his achievement and momentum to learn more, Mario became one of the first students in CMC Rifle’s automotive program. As he puts it, “I discovered my true calling and the thrill of working with the mechanics of vehicles.” 

Mario’s potential caught the attention of his instructors and several scholarship donors, all of whom helped pave a way forward. He’s thriving academically. Today, Mario has earned three certificates and is on track to finish his coursework completely debt free. His high performance also led to a good job at Bighorn Toyota. 

Mario’s journey is just beginning — and so is CMC’s role in meeting the growing demand for skilled trades across our region.  

As demand for skilled workers continues to rise, so will our investments in skilled trades programs. CMC’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers and building resilient mountain communities is unwavering.  

With gratitude for the tremendous support the communities of western Garfield County have given Colorado Mountain College for nearly 60 years, I hope that our friends and neighbors will continue to follow CMC’s progress and celebrate the impactful stories that emerge.  

Tinker Duclo is the vice president and campus dean of Colorado Mountain College’s Rifle campus.