Pipeline Training Center forging Alaska’s future
Skilled workers of tomorrow being cultivated today For 25 years, the Fairbanks Pipe - line Training Center (FPTC) has been the go-to place for North Slope craft workers who build the pipelines and other infrastructure needed for new oil and gas development on the Slope. Things have been pretty busy up north with the new Pikka and Wil - low projects coming to fruition and the work is likely to continue with the expansions now planned for Pikka. About 750 to 1,000 workers a year go through FPTCs training to learn a variety of trade skills, everything from an introduction to the trades for high schoolers to traditional pipeline construction training. FPTC typically has 80 in its core pipeline where four trades are brought together to train before being dispatched to job sites on the slope, said Amy Schumacher, Ex - ecutive Director of the center, which is a nonprofit formed in 2008. Teamsters Local 959, Operating Engineers Local 302, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 375 Laborers Locals 942 and 341, and IBEW Local 1547
CONTINUED on PAGE 26
“A lot of young people just don’t know about the trades or about unions, and the opportunities they bring. Our mission is to give Alaskans an opportunity in training for the oil and gas industries.” — Amy Schumacher, Executive Director, Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center
Photos Courtesy Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center The Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center is an important part of Alaska’s broader technical workforce system. For Fiscal Year 2027, FPTC is slated to receive $1.88 million through the state’s Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP). TVEP funding supports technical and vocational programs aligned with regional workforce needs and industry priorities.
25
24
THE LINK: The Official Magazine of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance | FALL 2026
www.AlaskaAlliance.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker