Eastern Gateway Community College is offering a training program for those interested in entry-level labor positions in the oil and gas industry. EGCC has offered this three-week ShaleNET training program regularly for the past year. It's available for free to students through a grant received in 2010. With several new gas and oil companies entering the Ohio Valley, it will be an important aspect for economic growth.


Program Manager of Workforce and Community Outreach at EGCC, Tacee Joltes says, "We know that there are opportunities for new careers in our area and the valley is going to really benefit on a lot of levels because of this industry."

ShaleNET.org helps to put this in perspective. The drilling of a single well requires 400 people in about 150 occupations. Job requirements in this field are demanding, but people who have a mindset like Craig Spinner can see the possibilities this position may bring. Craig just relocated from San Diego and was previously in the military.
"I've seen Steubenville and sort of this whole entire area disintegrate over the last 20-30 years and if I can come back and be sort of a role model for some of the other people in this area, that hey, you can come back here and help out in this community, make things happen for yourself, for your family and for the community," he said.

Ohio is currently ranked 10th in the country in workers directly employed in the unconventional oil and gas field. In a report released by IHS Global in December, it's projected that Ohio will be third in employment in the field by 2020. Being that the program is free, aside from some pre-enrollment screenings, is a huge draw.


The program doesn't guarantee an immediate job, and most times it takes several months. Tracee says this is a long-term commitment that companies are making coming into the area. There will be another training program offered in the coming months, but no exact dates have been set.