World-class performance

through skills, customization, and best-in-class work ethic.

In a county once edged by the famed Chisolm Trail, in a location that served as a jumping-off point for pioneering settlement, the American West meets the world with confidence and determination, offering global industry superior workforce ability and precisely customized skills.

Drawing from a dual-state labor pool of 100,000, the Woods County talent pipeline is empowered at every stage of development—by excellence and alignment in the K-12 school system, by a collaborative state and local technical training that has set a national standard, and by a local university ready to support industry needs.

K-12: Preparation for workforce performance

The County’s 94.2% high school graduation rate is only one indication of superior college- and career-readiness. Two flourishing dual enrollment programs, with the Northwest Technology Center and with Northwestern Oklahoma State University, graduate students with robust skillsets across sectors.

Northwest Technology Center: A model program

Oklahoma’s 29-center career tech system has been adopted as a model across the U.S. and in other nations, and in 2020 provided customized training for more than 2,500 new jobs. A standout in the career tech system, Northwest Technology Center offers full-time programs for both adults and high school students in 7 different areas, while also working in collaboration with Oklahoma’s Training for Industry Program (TIP) to provide customized training for local industry.

Training for Industry Program (TIP)

Like Oklahoma’s career tech system, TIP is recognized as setting the national standard for quality training. TIP is personalized; expert trainers at Northwest Technology Center work one-on-one with relocating or expanding industry for the utmost customization. TIP is also comprehensive—end to end, TIP hones your operation’s needed workforce skills with precision and speed from job analysis and assessment of training needs to preemployment and preproduction training, from instructional materials and development to training delivery, whether on your shop floor or at the Technology Center. Best of all, TIP services are always provided free.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU)

With more than a century of service behind it, NWOSU operates as a powerhouse regional resource that also draws students from 40 different U.S. states and 20 different countries. Students are attracted by the student-faculty ratio of 14-1 and a personal, high-quality educational experience on the main Alva campus as well as additional locations in Enid and Woodward. NWOSU offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 40 programs in the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, and the School of Professional Studies. While helping to assure a knowledgeable population and workforce, NWOSU is also available to industry for specific training projects.

Tell us your workforce needs and Woods County will deliver. It’s that simple.