CHEYENNE – October 29, 2026 -- Bechtel has committed $1 million to Laramie County Community College (LCCC) and Western Wyoming College to expand electrical and pipefitting training, including a pipefitting pathway that is new to Wyoming higher education. The company also launched Build for More, a statewide campaign that pitches skilled trades as a first-choice career for Wyoming students.
The funding will cover curriculum, instructors, equipment and training facilities at both institutions. The expanded electrical training will let more participants complete their programs in-state.
Bechtel announced the package at a panel discussion at LCCC in Cheyenne with Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, LCCC President Dr. Joe Schaffer and Bechtel Senior Vice President Walker Kimball. The Wyoming Innovation Partnership and the Wyoming Business Alliance co-hosted the event. The partnership was developed with support from the Governor's office.
Bechtel-commissioned research finds 47% of Wyoming high school students have never considered a trade
Wyoming adults hold the trades in high regard, according to the research. Eighty-nine percent view them favorably, 60% see them as a first-choice career and 83% say they are respected in their communities. Compared with a college degree, more adults also rate the trades as the better path for job stability, early-career earnings and lower debt.
Students and teachers see it differently. Only 20% of high school students plan to enter a trade program, vocational program or apprenticeship after graduation. Just 10% of students and 16% of teachers describe the trades as well paid. Only 28% of teachers see the trades as a first-choice career, even though teachers are students' top source of career information.
"It isn't enough to tell young people these careers are great," Kimball said, adding that students need chances to see the work up close and real pathways to jobs in their home communities.
LCCC and Western Wyoming College receive separate training build-outs
At LCCC, the money will fund electrical and pipefitting curriculum, instructors, equipment and dedicated hands-on training spaces. The programs will prepare participants for employment and apprenticeships and connect graduates with local contractors and industry partners. Schaffer said students will be able to earn nationally recognized credentials without leaving Wyoming.
At Western Wyoming College, the investment will expand electrical and pipefitting training through faculty, equipment and added capacity. It also funds a mobile pipefitting training unit that will carry hands-on training and career awareness to rural communities across the state.
Build for More targets students outside the traditional trades track
The campaign is aimed at students who may never have considered the trades, including those planning two- or four-year degrees. Because students say they rely most on parents and teachers for career guidance, it will also engage families and educators.
Build for More will use digital storytelling, community engagement and real-world exposure to construction careers. Its pitch centers on a start in a worker's 20s with less debt, skills in long-term demand and room to advance.