Idaho ICONIC program gives students hands-on heavy equipment training

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) –

Six Twin Falls students are four weeks into Idaho’s ICONIC program, already operating bulldozers, excavators, loaders, and more as part of a hands-on heavy equipment training course run by Baker Technical Institute.

The Twin Falls cohort is one of several programs statewide. The program is a partnership between Baker Technical Institute, the Idaho Transportation Department, and the Idaho Department of Labor. Sandy Mitchell, program manager at Baker Technical Institute, said the Idaho Department of Transportation has sponsored academies in Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Moscow.

The program aims to address a growing need for skilled construction workers. Mitchell said more infrastructure funding is driving demand for trained operators and that the training is designed to connect people directly with available jobs.

The classroom portion of the ICONIC training took place at the Idaho Department of Labor building in Twin Falls. Forklift training was conducted at the College of Southern Idaho, and simulated training along with additional classroom instruction was set up at Buyer Construction, also in Twin Falls.

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