Partners for Progress in Delta, Inc., a consortium of educational partners, has been working together since 2003 to address a shortage of skilled workers in the region. The Department of Defense completed an Economic Adjustment Plan in 2002 when it identified Fort Greely as the site of the Ground-based Midcourse Missile Defense System. Funds were provided to the City of Delta Junction to address concerns in the report.
The Delta Career Advancement Center was constructed with federal, state and private funds. It opened in January 2005 and became the home for the new Construction Trades program created at the high school. The first Entry Level Heavy Equipment Operator Academy was offered in June 2006 and is a popular annual intensive three-week program. The high school program and the summer academies have resulted in direct placements with apprenticeship programs, and many other participants have been hired by local and state construction-related businesses. UAF Community & Technical College, Cooperative Extension Service, and Alaska Works Partnership have offered a wide range of classes at the Center since January 2005. The educational consortium incorporated in 2007 and the Delta Career Advancement Center was named a Regional Training Center by the Legislature in 2008.
As a partnership, our core purpose is summarized as follows: “The combined missions of the partners reinforce a commitment to career advancement, workforce development, academic preparedness, community education and life-long learning. The Delta Career Advancement Center, a collaborative project, is a gateway for learning and training in the area.”