and economic development strategy recently prepared for the Nevada governor's Office of Economic Development lists a lack of skilled labor in the state as a threat to economic diversification.

A discussion on how to best address that issue is ahead.

But first, we ask, might trade schools be the answer?

Mike Rowe, host of the show Dirty Jobs, thinks so.

The TV star is partnering with the Eagle Stout Foundation to award trade school scholarships to freshmen at Western High School.

Do you know what you want to do when you're finished with high school?

I don't know.

And I'm thinking about like, go to college.

Go to college.

Were the common responses.

TV host Mike Rowe received when asking this freshmen studies class about their plans after graduation.

You guys ever see my TV show, Road show Dirty Jobs highlights the difficult and dirty jobs that keep the country running.

You got a sense of smell?

Yep.

Yeah.

Then this is not the show for you.

Their importance, he says, is similar to the careers that trade schools can provide jobs in welding and h-back, for example, which don't require a four year college degree.

So a big part of this is to is to talk about work ethic and so forth.

But in the course of doing that, show them what a successful welder looks like in 2024.

That looks like a man or woman making six figures with no college debt.

Right.

And so when you can start showing kids examples of skilled trades, people who are prospering as a direct result of mastering a skill that's in demand, that's powerful.

And I think it's something that over the years trade schools have been diminished and not as valued.

But let's face it, we all have to have people in the trades.

Go home.

And if one is not working, you go home and your car is not starting.

What are you going to do?

Chris Ingolstadt is CEO of the Ingolstadt Foundation, which is funding the Warrior pathway Program that inspired the four year pilot program is available to this year's freshman class at Western High School.

And Ross says if students in this traditionally underserved area complete it, they'll earn a full ride to any two year trade school.

If I have my way initiatives like this will be happening in every zip code, in every county, in every state, because the skills gap is not unique to Clark County and underserved kids are certainly not unique to this to this state.

Rowe says completion of the program is based on strong attendance and good behavior, but not grades.