I go to Ivy Tech, the largest community college system in the country. It has been around since 1963, when it was known as Indiana Vocational Technical College, and is offering exactly the kinds of programs described in this article. You can also take general education classes that can transfer to a four-year degree. Ivy Tech is also very closely tied to local employers. And yes, it's less costly than a four-year colleges. Short-term job training programs are available too, and I believe employers sometimes arrange training programs specific to their needs through the college. And the Career Center is very helpful too, for when job-hunting time comes.

Welding, plumbing, truck driving, those are jobs it's hard to ship Overseas. And furthermore, these businesses need to suck it up and help pay for the education of their skilled workforces according to their means.

Anecdotal, but ....

The furnace in our apt went two days ago. My landlady had her usual HVAC guy stop by on his way home to look at it. It needs to be replaced. So old that it would be impossible to find parts to repair it. Unfortunately, he's in the middle of a huge project with a deadline and doesn't have the time to do the job.

She called another local HVAC guy she knows. He came by -- same prognosis. He, too, is very busy and the earliest he can do this is Sat, but more than likely not until Monday.

Meanwhile, we're using plug-in oil/radiating heaters and our elec. bill will be skyhigh, but the nights are getting cold in New England and we can't be without heat.

I appreciate that my landlady insists on hiring local small business people (and she absolutely refuses to have anything from Home Depot installed in the place), but it's probably going to end up that we're going to be without a furnace for close to a week because the usual HVAC guys have so much work on their plates.

Just some info for anyone with kids trying to decide on a trade to pursue.

I've worked in alternative home heating. It's intensely seasonal in demand. You're firing up the furnace at the same time the rest of your state is after a long off season. Come January, finding available heating contractors will not be such a daunting task.

That's not to say there isn't opportunity, but you 're going to hustle for business 9 months out of the year.

Career Services is a joke there, though.