Job Corps center closing in Ronan

Kicking Horse Job Corps, a longtime Mission Valley tribal job-training program, is closing Feb. 28.

Located on Mollman Pass Trail south of Ronan, the Job Corps has operated since 1970 under a contract between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the U.S. Department of Labor. The closure is being caused by the Labor Department’s termination of this contract.

The staff of 46 employees was informed of the closing on Feb. 6. The center has been winding down operations, so there are no students currently residing there.

Reasons for the contract termination are unclear. A statement released by CSKT Communications Director Robert McDonald said, “all we know for certain is that our ability to operate Kicking Horse Job Corps through a Department of Labor contract terminated with our existing contract term.”

The center provided hands-on training for youth ages 16 to 24 in six technical fields, including heavy equipment operators, equipment repair, facility maintenance, culinary arts, certified nursing assistant, and pharmacy technician. Students were also able to obtain their HiSET, or high school equivalency credential, from Kicking Horse, with Salish Kootenai College providing proctor services for testing. Originally serving only Native Americans, it opened to non-natives in 2007.

The center was most recently licensed to provide educational services for up to 177 students, and at one time served up to 400. Many graduates have gone on to successful careers in such fields as nursing, diesel mechanics, culinary arts, lineman, social work, and the military, and many have offered their skills for their local and national community in volunteer capacities.