trades Archives - Workforce Development, Inc.

Media Contacts
Emily Wessing                                                                Julie Brock
Executive Assistant/Marketing Coordinator                   Project Manager
507-252-6524 | ewessing@wdimn.org                           507-421-6487 | jbrock@wdimn.org .

TAGS: @BloombergDotOrg and #MayorsChallenge, #rochmn

People of Color and Women are Encouraged to Enroll in
New Trades Readiness Training Program

August 10, 2023 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – A new Trades Readiness Certificate program through Workforce Development, Inc. begins on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. The Trades Readiness Training Program provides high quality, apprentice-level training to people interested in construction industry careers. People of color and women are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a valid Minnesota driver’s license and meet minimum math and English assessments. Training will be offered for free to eligible applicants. To apply for the Trades Readiness Training Program contact Stacy Brumfield with Workforce Development, Inc. at 507-252-5159 or sbrumfield@wdimn.org.

In January 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies selected the City of Rochester as a 2021-2022 Global Mayors Challenge winner of a $1 million grant and technical assistance to create career pathways for BIPOC women in the built environment. The new Trades Readiness Training Program is part of the implementation of the Equity in the Built Environment (EBE) program.

“This training is now the basis for the Equity in the Built Environment program. It can be entered at the top of fall, spring, or summer semester. Classes are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, so participants can work during the day,” shares Julie Brock, Project Manager with Workforce Development, Inc. and City of Rochester for the EBE program. “We finally have a stable training that is offered consistently that will get people started on their (construction trades) career journey no matter the time of year.”

The City of Rochester and Destination Medical Center (DMC) funded construction projects have workforce participation goals for people of color (15%) and women (7%). Workforce participation performance for women on tracked City of Rochester and DMC projects from April 2017 through June 2023 has been 3.6%, about half of the goal. The number of BIPOC women participating in construction workforce on City and DMC projects has been less than 1%.

Workforce Development, Inc. in partnership with City of Rochester, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Clean Cities and Rochester Community and Technical College announce the new Trades Readiness Training Program. All Workforce Development, Inc. services are free. They services include assessment, career planning, skills training, job search guidance and resources and preparation for further training and education. They also offer scholarships and connections to many programs in Southeast Minnesota.

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For Immediate Release

December 1, 2021

Contact: Jenn Hathaway

Phone: 612.816.1710

Building Strong Communities, a Program that Focuses on Training Women, People of Color and Veterans for Careers in the Union and Construction Trades is Coming to Southeastern Minnesota

Rochester (December 1, 2021) – Building Strong Communities, a multi-trade, building and construction trades apprenticeship readiness program has recently expanded to become the first statewide apprenticeship readiness program designed to recruit and prepare women, people of color and veterans for a career in the building and construction industry. As part of the Building Strong Communities expansion statewide, BSC will begin programming in southeastern Minnesota in 2022.

Building Strong Communities is a program that prepares participants for a career in the construction industry by providing access to union endorsed training and an opportunity for participants to gain real experience and exposure to union building and construction trades. Training and online classes will be hosted by North Hennepin Community College.

“We are very excited to bring the Building Strong Communities program to southeastern Minnesota,” said Joe Fowler, President of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades. “Building Strong Communities is a unique program that recruits women, people of color and veterans into building and construction trades with the goal of identifying a trade that participants can turn into a life-long career.”

“As we move into 2022 and the years ahead, the City of Rochester Public Works Department plans to build and maintain a diverse workforce,” states Director of Public Works Wendy Turri. “The expansion of the Building Strong Communities program into southeastern Minnesota is a promising step toward increasing the number of trained women, people of color and veterans for construction trades careers and positions with the City of Rochester Public Works Department.”

“Building Strong Communities is a complete introduction to the building and construction trades, it really opened my eyes to different opportunities,” said Edgar Chavira Rios, a member of the 2021 Building Strong Communities cohort. “After graduation from the BSC program, I was fully prepared for a career in the building and construction industry. I am now a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and have a career as a dry wall finisher.”

Jinny Rietmann, Executive Director of Workforce Development, Inc. shared, “Workforce Development, Inc. is excited to partner with Building Strong Communities. We look forward to bringing additional trades and construction training opportunities to individuals in Southeast Minnesota as this will not only address workforce challenges but will also increase diversity in this key industry sector.”

Building Strong Communities, formerly a partnership between Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council and the Metropolitan Council, is now a statewide program run by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades. BSC has been run successfully in both the Twin Cities and Duluth.

Tag: trades

PRESS RELEASE: People of Color and Women are Encouraged to Enroll in New Trades Readiness Training program

PRESS RELEASE: Program that Focuses on Training Women, People of Color and Veterans for Careers in the Union Building and Construction Trades Expanding to Southeastern Minnesota

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