FVCC receives $50k donation to heavy equipment program

Flathead Valley Community College recently received a $50,000 donation to it heavy equipment operators program.

The $50,000 contribution from Green Diamond Resource Company will assist with the purchase of a Vortex Edge Plus, which is a portable system used for construction and forestry heavy equipment training, and is used to quickly assess the skill level of heavy equipment operators.

“We are so grateful to Green Diamond for their generous gift to our community college,” said Lisa M. Blank, executive director of workforce development at FVCC. “Located in a rural, natural-resource-rich area of Montana, we are positioned to support the work to prepare the next generation of employees that serve critical roles in maintaining our landscapes that are integral to clean water, diverse ecosystems and vibrant local economies."

Blank added that Green Diamond’s donation would help fill the workforce pipeline in natural resources fields.

The company owns working forest lands in Washington, Oregon, Montana and California.

“Green Diamond and its employees have a long history of philanthropic giving and engagement in programs in our operating areas, like the ones at Flathead Valley Community College, that fit directly with the core values of our company of safety, integrity, stewardship, community, and profitability,” said Brian Hobday, Montana area manager with Green Diamond. “Consistent with those values, we are dedicated to supporting organizations like Flathead Valley Community College that help to ensure long-term success of companies like Green Diamond. We admire the essential work they do and look forward to seeing the impact our small contribution makes to their larger goals.”