Career Connect NW

10/13/2026

On October 7, the NW Education & Workforce Coalition convened at Skagit Valley College to develop a stronger framework for coordinated regional action. Read about their accomplishments so far: https://www.nwesd.org/news/nw-education-workforce-coalition-october-convening/

Who participated: Anacortes School District, Bellingham Technical College, Career Connect NW, Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County - EDASC, Island County Economic Development Council, Meridian School District 505, Northwest Career & Technical Academy, NWESD 189, Port of Bellingham, Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College

10/09/2026

The Career & Technical Scholarship (CTS) application window is now open!

This is an incredible opportunity for Washington students pursuing education in high-demand fields like health care, STEM, and trades. Students should submit their applications by October 15 for funding starting in winter or spring 2027 through credential completion.

CTS provides up to $1,500 per quarter, every quarter, for tuition, tools, and other costs, plus additional funding for rural students through the Rural Jobs Initiative.

Learn more and apply at: https://ow.ly/WCc550ZSMp9

10/09/2026

Financial aid applications are now available!

Apply now: wsac.wa.gov/apply

Spread the word to students & families: FAFSA & WASFA are now open. Half of families in Washington can get free money for college or training!

Ready Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) College Success Foundation Washington State Opportunity Scholarship

10/09/2026

Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) Native American Apprenticeship Assistance Program (NAAAP) applications are open.

10/08/2026

Welcome, David Ballif!

The EDASC Board of Directors is pleased to announce David Ballif will take the helm at EDASC beginning Jan. 12, 2027.

"The Board and I have the utmost confidence that David will build upon the strong trajectory [current CEO] John Sternlicht has set out and bring EDASC into the next decade to further impact our business community for the better,” Board Chair Nikki Wegner said.

Ballif comes to EDASC from the Jefferson County, WA, EDC. He previously served as a career diplomat with USAID, overseeing economic development in six countries across Central America.

Ballif grew up in Skagit County and is looking forward to returning home, reacquainting himself with the North Cascades and taking in all there is to love about Magic Skagit.

Read more about Ballif here: https://tinyurl.com/bddmdeea

10/02/2026

Happy MFG Day, everyone!

High school students often ask about how much money they could make in modern manufacturing careers. As they should - they need to plan to support themselves in the lifestyle they want! Students are not usually surprised that there is high-demand and need for manufacturing candidates for jobs - but they also need to know it's a high-wage career option as well. For those reasons, we chose to share this graphic for from The Manufacturing Institute.

We have so many opportunities for manufacturing careers in our region from aerospace, to maritime, to lumber and more: Janicki, Sierra Pacific Industries, Hampton Lumber, Hexcel Corporation, Dakota Creek Industries, Silfab Solar Inc., The Boeing Company, HF Sinclair Puget Sound Refinery, bp, Paccar Technical Center, and Goodwinds Composites

For more stats and resources to share with people to bring awareness to careers in modern and advanced manufacturing, check out the MFG Day Marketing Toolkit: https://mfgday.com/resources/mfgday-marketing-toolkit/

10/02/2026

Check out this newsletter from CSTA Washington!
It's packed with resources for teachers and students, including how to access free vouchers through the Washington State Library system to take exams leading to industry-recognized credentials, ready-to-use lesson plans around responsible AI use, and cybersecurity competitions for students.
Happy Cybersecurity Awareness Month, everyone! 💗

🍂 **The October CSTA Washington Newsletter is here!**

October is **Cybersecurity Awareness Month** 🔐 — and we’re starting with a simple message for ourselves and our students:

**Don’t Make It Easy for Them!**

This month we also have:

📊 New 2026 Washington CSEd analytics and district reports
🤖 A classroom lesson for developing norms for AI use
🏆 Opportunities for your students
🛡️ The NCCE Student Cybersecurity Challenge
👋 Our Member Spotlight on Trish Henry
💻 Our completed introductory series on the new CSTA PK–12 CS Standards

There’s a lot happening in Washington CSEd this fall. Check out the October newsletter:

https://www.cstawa.org/csta-washington-newsletter-oct-2026-cybersecurity-awareness-month/

09/25/2026

Love the merch, Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition! I might need to get that cozy sweatshirt. What a great way to promote awareness of maritime trades on - and off - the water! ❤️

Tides. Trades. Tradition. Our Whatcom waterfronts are shaped by all three and we are pleased to share our new merchandise with you at Bellingham SeaFeast this weekend! With a slogan submitted from our membership, and a design by local artist Jim Dixon, JimDixonArtist.com, our tee shirts and zip up hoodies help you share your waterfront pride anywhere you go. Beanies and pint cups are also available. See you at the 'Feast!

09/24/2026

Sometimes finding answers to creating safer shop environments starts with teachers asking each other, “How are you doing it?” Add industry safety representatives who have learned from visiting hundreds of schools, and you have a powerful exchange of ideas, experience, and practical solutions!

Read the full recap to learn more about the Welding and Woodworking Shop Safety Workshop for K-12 teachers in Whatcom and northern Skagit counties that took place September 9.
Event Recap:
https://www.nwesd.org/news/ccnw-shop-safety/

A big Thank You to Central Welding Supply , Hypertherm North America, Technic Training Center at Lynden Door Inc., and Lynden High School!

09/16/2026

Check out our September Fall e-newsletter to see what we've been up to and register for upcoming events: Orange Shirt Day, Manufacturing Community of Practice, Cybersecurity Career Workshops, High School & Beyond Community of Practice, and so much more!

Source:

Career connect northwest logo with green and purple letters and green trees # # # Welcome Back! photo of four team members from Career Connect Northwest smiling at the camera and posing in a line with a plant behind them Welcome back from summer break! Now that we are all together again, we'd like to....