A national training site owned by the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges has moved to the campus of Scott Community College in Bettendorf. Tuesday officials of the college district celebrated the new location for their Environmental Health and Safety training facility.
Ellen Bluth, Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Economic Development, says it's nearly 40 years old, and in recent years the program was based in northwest Davenport where the Wacky Waters waterpark was located.
The training program will use some classrooms at the Belmont Road campus in Bettendorf, but also has space outdoors for a simulated hazardous waste site, complete with over-turned barrels.
"So having the physical ability to suit up and actually experience it, as if you were out at an accident site, is something that makes it very unique."
It will also use a converted shipping container for students to train in a confined space.
Bluth says health and safety training is the number one request the college district receives from local business and industry.
They also work with the National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education to train faculty from other community colleges so they can return home and train people in their area.
