Funds to train welders at Choffin

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Federal funds are on the way to help launch a welders training program at Choffin Career & Technical Center and Trumbull Career & Technical Center.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, is scheduled to present a $215,174 check for the program to the Youngstown city schools and Western Reserve Building Trades on Monday.

The funds will be used to establish a regional Pathways to Building Trades program.

The Youngstown and Warren city schools and Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 396 worked together to prepare a proposal to secure the federal training funds. Pathways to the Building Trades will focus on training candidates for entry to the apprenticeship programs, specializing in welding due to an acute shortage of experienced welding professionals in the region.

The training will be offered to high school students at the two schools this fall. In addition to the basics of welding, students will receive an education on life skills, leadership development and basic safety.

Pathways to the Building Trades will continue to seek other opportunities to develop candidates for other building trades’ apprenticeships. That goal includes outreach to under-represented women and minorities in the building trades.

Pathway to the Building Trades is an offshoot of Youngstown Works Coalition, an organization created to help build a prepared, skilled work force through training and employment opportunities.