BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College’s training programs are expanding.

BC3 and the International Maritime Security Network now are partners that will offer six courses to protect commercial facilities and vessels.

For 10 years, network’s training took place in “blue water,” said Tim Nease, chief executive officer, IMSN, in a release.

“This partnership opens up the brown water (rivers) for us,” he said.

Training classes will use BC3’s disaster management simulator, a computer-based, virtual-reality tool used for its emergency training programs.

BC3’s work force development group, run by Steve Catt, executive director, offers organizations business training, industrial safety training, public safety training and professional education.

It served 57 organizations during 2011, according to BC3’s 2011 Presidents’ Report, providing customized computer, manufacturing, human resources and industrial electrical trainings.

For example, associate professors teach classes at Oberg Industries’ apprenticeship program, said Neil Ashbaugh, senior market support specialist with Oberg Industries, and chairman of the Butler County Manufacturing Consortium.

In addition, with input from precision manufacturers, BC3 developed a 10-week course to prepare students for jobs in Butler County’s precision manufacturing sector.

“These are very highly skilled manufacturing jobs,” said Ashbaugh.

Although some manufacturers offer apprenticeship programs, BC3’s introductory program makes job candidates more employable, he said.

Young applicants, returning military veterans or people who want to break-out of a low-wage job might all benefit from the program, he said.

There are about 300 small, medium and large shops in Butler County that are potential employers of these trained workers, he said. Many are part of a global supply chain.

“We’re very proud of what goes on here,” he said about manufacturing in the county.

Other organizations, such as the YWCA, talked with BC3 about a training idea already in mind for their employees, said Lisa Campbell, director of business and industry training.

“They came to us and said, ‘This is what we’d like,’” Campbell said, and BC3 provided the expertise.

Public safety and industrial safety training for employees is led by Steve Nickell, director of business and industry safety training.

“We want to be able to help everyone,” Nickell said, recounting that he’s led Occupational Safety and Health Administration training as far away as the Phillipines for II-VI, Saxonburg.

Safety training customers are from all over the world, he said.

Many of BC3’s industrial safety courses are designed to satisfy the requirements of regulatory agencies such as OSHA, the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency.

BC3 also is helping to build a work force for the Marcellus Shale industry.

Last year, the college received a $553,044 federal grant to expand its welding programs to prepare employees to build pipeline networks for Marcellus Shale gas companies. Classes are at the Butler County Vocational-Technical School’s new welding shop.

BC3 entered into a partnership with Petroskills, an oil and gas industry trainer, to offer courses, certificates and degree programs there.

“Out-of-state industries that come to Butler County will hire local workers when they have the skill set employers need,” Nickell said.

A well-site simulation on the campus burns natural gas and includes a wellhead, storage tanks and other equipment common at well sites. It is used to train both first responders and gas company employees.

Catt pointed out the college continues to help a number of industries such as tourism, manufacturing and health care.

“We are a diverse economy compared to 25 years ago,” Catt said.