North of 60 Mining News - The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North

Hecla Mining Company Aug. 31 donated another US$300,000 to the University of Alaska Southeast as part of the Greens Creek Mine owner's ongoing support of the campus' "Pathways to Mining Careers" program.

This program was created in 2011, when Hecla made an inaugural US$300,000 donation to develop a unique approach to engage local high school students and to educate and train them for future employment in the mining industry. Since that time, the program has been expanded to include adults new to mining.

The program takes students who may be interested in a mining career through a five-step pathway from learning about the occupations available in mining, through training and job shadowing to the ultimate goal of a job at Greens Creek.

Counting this latest commitment to Pathways to Mining Careers, Hecla has donated US$900,000 to the program. The company believes this investment is a win-win for Greens Creek and the local community.

"Our donation has provided dozens of Southeast Alaska residents the qualifications needed to be hired in our growing, high tech industry," said Mike Satre, government and community relations manager, Hecla Greens Creek Mining Co. "Creating and retaining a local workforce provides significant benefits to both the mine and the surrounding communities."

-SHANE LASLEY