Pipefitters partner with college, YMHA for welding, green-energy jobs

Staff Report

BOARDMAN

A $1.5 million federal grant and partnerships with Eastern Gateway Community College and Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority will be the focus of a press conference Monday at the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 396 offices on Bev Road.

Butch Taylor, Local 396 business manager, said U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, has secured a $1.5 million training grant for welding and green- energy programs.

The union has also formed a partnership with Eastern Gateway Community College to augment the Plumbers and Pipefitters’ apprenticeship program by incorporating an associate degree of technical studies into the program.

In addition to completing their training, apprentices will be able to earn a college degree, Taylor said.

Eastern Gateway is seeking $2 million in funding to help finance the training program that will be required for upcoming energy/advanced energy construction projects in Northeastern Ohio, Taylor said.

Over the next two years, more than 1,000 trained construction and maintenance workers will be needed for those projects, he said.

Local 396, as part of the Western Reserve Building Trades, has also formed a partnership with Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority to support a Project Labor Agreement, Taylor said.

The authority is seeking more than $9.8 million in capital funds to rehabilitate 82 housing units as well as community and other non-dwelling space in its Brier Hill complex, he said. The work will be designed to produce a green, energy efficient community designed to incorporate all facets of energy-saving mechanisms.