Electrical Trades Institute of Northeast Ohio to open in Champion

CHAMPION — The $2.2 million Electrical Trades Institute of Northeast Ohio will open Monday.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 3:30 p.m. at the center at 4550 Research Parkway near the Trumbull campus of Kent State University.

The 18,000-square-foot training facility is more than twice the size of the former facility, which is located nearby and is home to a a five-year electrician apprenticeship program.

During the work-study program, apprentices are paid $10.22 an hour the first year and up to $26 per hour the final year.

In addition to free training, they also receive health insurance, pension and a 401K program.

The training includes 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 900 hours of classroom study in electrical theory and project safety.

The facility and program are funded privately through a labor-management coalition between the Mahoning Valley Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 573 in Warren.

Between 30 and 40 electricians are graduated each class.

The building has completely automated systems, which increase energy efficiency to make the building cost-effective and environmentally friendly.