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Set to begin in January 2018, the no-cost program will run five classes primarily at its Bridgeport Harbor Station on Atlantic Street, where trainees will be able to watch the construction of the new $550 million gas-fired plant PSEG is building there.
“Apprenticeships have taken on a new meaning in the last few months,” said Joe Carbone, CEO of Bridgeport-based The WorkPlace, which will manage and administer Ready2Work.
“We need workers with narrow but specific expertise.”
Through the program, trainees will gain the skills and credentials they need to compete for union apprenticeship programs, something he and others called a gateway to middle-class jobs in the construction industry.
“We want them to work for the next 30 years,” said David Roche, president of Connecticut Building Trades. “This is day one. This is where it starts.”
The program is open to any Bridgeport resident, but officials are specifically encouraging women, minorities and veterans to apply. Applicants must be 18, have a high school diploma or GED, be proficient in English, drug free and physically capable.
They must also be licensed drivers at the time of graduation.
The program includes a 120-hour online curriculum and 420 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training experiences. Topics covered include tools and materials, reading blueprints, green construction, financial literacy and more.
The program covers all books, tools and supplies.
Mayor Joe Ganim and city leaders lauded the program as a way to boost the quality of life for city residents.
“This is truly something this city really deserves,” said City Council member Denise Taylor-Moye, who represents the South End neighborhood where the power plant is located.
To learn more or to submit an application, visit BridgeportHarborStation.com/Ready2Work.
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