Hecla’s commitment to providing educational and workforce development opportunities benefits our communities and our company.
Hecla has partnered for 14 years with the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Center for Mine Training in Juneau, Alaska. We’ve donated over $1.8 million to its Pathway to Mining Careers workforce development program as an investment in educating, recruiting, and training Alaskans for careers in the mining industry. Hecla funds 20 seats in the introductory class to mining occupations and operations, which is aimed at high school students and enables them to earn college credits.
Greens Creek provides internships for students from mining and technical schools around the U.S., as well as local schools, to develop their skills and knowledge and enhance recruiting efforts.
Hecla provides a donation of $1 CAD per ounce of gold produced to the Hecla-Quebec Global Development Fund (UQAT Foundation–Fondation de l’Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue), which supports students at the local university. We are the leading partner of the Fund, which provides scholarships in support of work-life balance, return to school, perseverance, and success-training programs. In 2024 we donated $66,000 USD to the Foundation and awarded scholarships to 69 students. Since 2009, Hecla Quebec has donated over $2 million USD to the Foundation.
Casa Berardi partners with the James Bay and Lac Abitibi Vocational Training Centers on a training program for mine mechanics. Casa Berardi also hires graduates from the Mineral Extraction program at the James Bay Vocational Training Center. In 2024, we hired 12 of the 14 program’s graduates.
Hecla supports the Mining and Petroleum Training Service (MAPTS) program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This program introduces underground mining, a culture of safety, and camp-style work and leads to fulltime employment. In 2024, we sponsored six graduates, who are now employed with Hecla as underground support miners. We have hired a total of 72 graduates since the program began in 2014.
Hecla’s operating mines offer internship programs.
