Northwest Tech Receives Emergency Generator Grant

Northwest Tech recently received a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation for $25,000 to help fund an emergency generator system for the college’s Memorial Union. The college applied for the grant after recognizing the need for backup electrical service on campus in case of an emergency. “We live in a region with wide variability in weather, and we run the risk of not having power on campus in the case of a catastrophic weather event,” said Northwest Tech President Ben Schears. “With the weather, it’s not usually a matter of if…but rather when an event will occur.”

The college has over 200 residents living on campus each year, and in the event of an emergency, the Memorial Union is the staging point on campus. The location also serves as a staging point for emergency management for the local community in a crisis. “As an example, in the case of a severe ice storm that resulted in a loss of power, we could still keep our students warm and fed,” said Schears. “We also want to be cognizant of the needs of our community when the need arises.”

The overall cost of the improvement of the facility is approximately $50,000, and the grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation is a significant contribution toward the project. “We can’t thank the Dane G. Hansen Foundation enough for their assistance in this project and the many things they do for the Goodland community,” said Schears. The college will be working on additional funding sources and would like to have the emergency generator installed before the next school year.