Komatsu is excited to announce that it has contributed US$250,000 toward this important initiative.

"We recognise the imperative to build a talent pipeline for our distributors and the heavy equipment industry at large," Rod Bull, Komatsu's executive vice president, North America Region, said. "Komatsu supports Vision 2025 and its focus on helping schools promote careers in the technical field to young people, who often aren't aware of the great family-supporting jobs available in this industry. We're excited to do our part to share this story of opportunity to join an industry that keeps our world growing and sustains our way of life."

Komatsu supports Vision 2025 and its focus on helping schools promote careers in the technical field to young people

Research by the AED Foundation has found that the industry needs to fill an anticipated 73,500 heavy equipment technician positions over the next five years and that the technician shortage is compounded by a gap in required skills and available training.

Vision 2025 aims to address these issues by growing the foundation's impact to include a minimum of 120 accredited college programmes (currently 71), and a minimum of 200 recognised high school programmes (currently 36). If the project is successful, it has the potential to create a talent pipeline that includes an additional 10,000 skilled technicians entering the workforce, 5000 AED Foundation-certified technicians and 500 AED Foundation-certified managers.

With a fundraising goal of US$10 million over the next five years, Vision 2025 funds will be directed toward:

• New college accreditation programmes targeting underserved areas where an existing heavy equipment/diesel technology programme is already in place;
• High school recognition programmes that will prioritise locations that can serve as a feeder system into current and anticipated accredited college programmes;
• Expanding the AED Foundation's endowment to ensure Vision 2025 efforts are sustainable over the long term.

"The AED Foundation is grateful for Komatsu's leadership and investment in our Vision 2025 campaign," AED Foundation president Brian McGuire said. "Komatsu's support, in conjunction with nearly 75 other investors, brings our Vision 2025 campaign to over US$6 million. These investments provide the Foundation with the sustainability needed to continue to be the heavy equipment industry's leader in workforce development."

Including Komatsu's donation, a total of US$1.45 million has been pledged to the Vision 2025 campaign by Komatsu and its dealer network.

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