Itasca, IL – The National Safety Council and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) today announced a five-year agreement to renew a partnership started 10 years ago with the founding of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS).
The agreement is the third, five-year agreement between the two organizations since NECAS was founded to educate and train farmers, ranchers, their families and employees, and emergency rescue personnel, on agriculture safety.
“NECAS would not exist without widespread support on the national, state and local levels, support I hope will continue with this new agreement, allowing both the National Safety Council and Northeast Iowa Community College to continue every effort to reduce preventable injuries, illnesses and deaths on our farms,” said NSC President and CEO Alan C. McMillan at a celebration of the 10-year NECAS anniversary and the signing of the new five-year partnership agreement.
Farming, today, is one of the most dangerous jobs in America, claiming nearly 700 lives a year. However, more than 25,000 farmers and their families have been trained at the center since its founding, as well as tens of thousands of other agricultural outreach organizations including farming cooperatives and insurers. The center also trains emergency rescue personnel, and sponsors a number of youth and community programs.
Located on the NICC campus in Peosta, NECAS is the only hands-on safety training center in the world dedicated to the farming community. “NECAS is doing so many great things that help further agriculture initiatives in the region,” stated NICC President Penny Wills. “The most recent partnership between NECAS and the city and county of Dubuque to create a $2.6 million regional emergency responder training facility is just one example of its importance to our region and the state.”
Staffed by a core group of safety and health education specialists, NECAS training is also provided by leading agricultural educators from across the United States. NECAS receives program support and funding from cooperatives, commodity groups, farm organizations, the State of Iowa, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the private sector.
About the National Safety Council The National Safety Council is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, international public service organization. Members of the NSC include businesses, labor organization, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. Founded in 1913 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the National Safety Council is committed to preventing accidental injuries in the workplace, on roads and highways, and in homes and communities.
About the Northeast Iowa Community College The Northeast Iowa Community College has campuses in Calmar and Peosta, along with six conveniently located centers in downtown Dubuque, Manchester, Cresco, New Hampton, and Oelwein. NICC offers over 50 vocational/technical programs, as well as arts and sciences and general education courses that readily transfer to four-year colleges and universities. NICC also offers non-credit continuing education and workforce development training for personal and professional development.
For Immediate Release, August 23, 2006
Media Contact: National Safety Council 630-775-2307 media@nsc.org
