M STATE GRANT TO TRAIN MORE STUDENTS IN HYBRID, ELECTRIC VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

Open House, Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m., is open to anyone with an interest in the automotive industry.

MOORHEAD – Minnesota State Community and Technical College is amping up hybrid and electric vehicle education, and a celebratory Open House has been planned at the college’s state-of-theart Transportation Center in Moorhead.

The market for hybrid and electric vehicles has grown exponentially in recent years, and as a result, there’s a rapidly growing demand for automotive technicians trained to maintain and repair these vehicles.

Now, thanks in large part to a $349,652 National Science Foundation grant award, M State is rolling out plans for a forward-thinking new training program to help meet that demand.

“The energy surrounding the hybrid and electric vehicle market is surging; it’s a transformative era for the automotive industry, and we’re excited to be leading efforts to prepare students for this transition,” said M State President Carrie Brimhall. “It’s important that we don’t sit back and wait for the change, but rather take the wheel to lead the next generation of automotive service technicians to long and successful careers in the field. 

An array of electric vehicles (EVs) will be on display during the event, and there will be an announcement about M State’s upcoming Level 3 EV charging station, which will be one of only four such stations in the Fargo-Moorhead area and will be available to the public at no cost. M State leaders will speak, and a reception with snacks and beverages will follow.

NORTH DAKOTA AUTISM CENTER OPENS ENRICHMENT CENTER TO PUBLIC

WEST FARGO -The North Dakota Autism Center, Inc. (NDAC) is holding an open house on Tuesday, October 18th to celebrate their newly renovated Enrichment Center space at 647 13th Ave. E, West Fargo

This event is open to the public, and will include a ribbon cutting with the FMWF Chamber of Commerce. NDAC also plans to open their Enrichment Center to the public in October, after piloting the program with their own clients, staff, and families for over a year.

In an effort to provide opportunities for individuals and families in our community, NDAC created the Enrichment Center. This is a place where families can build connections in the community in a safe and welcoming environment. The NDAC Enrichment Center is a free program that provides opportunities for individuals and their caregiver to participate in a variety of different activities, such as arts & crafts, cooking classes, games, community outings, and more.

The primary goal of the NDAC Enrichment Center is to create an inclusive, safe, and engaging environment for people of all abilities. It provides a place for participants to socialize, make friends, and make connections in the community. By creating this program, NDAC hopes to provide more opportunities for the families in the Fargo-West Fargo-Moorhead area.

To continue providing these activities to individuals and families for free, the NDAC Enrichment Center relies on the support of the community. If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering with the Enrichment Center, please visit ndautismcenter.org/community and click “Enrichment Center” to find their wishlist and volunteer application.