In 2014, the Construction Association of Michigan convened industry stakeholders to address a single question: “What keeps you up at night?” Throughout a series of roundtable discussions attended by owners, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, one of the key issues leading to sleepless nights was the lack of a qualified workforce. State budget cuts led to termination of vocational training at the high school level and parents and educators pushed students to colleges and universities instead of trade schools and hands-on apprenticeships. As a result, construction industry employers are struggling to fill all levels, including skilled trades, estimators, and project managers.
To address the growing problem, CAM set out to create a 5-day Boot Camp program designed to educate high school juniors and seniors about the available career paths in the construction industry. The program was called 3D: Design, Develop, Deliver. The 2016 pilot program brought together 20 Detroit high school students and provided them with training in terminology, phases of construction, jobsite safety, project management, and personal financial management and communication skills.
Click here for a program recap.
For 2017, CAM has expanded the program and will be offering five Boot Camps – one for high school seniors, two for veterans, and two for adults seeking employment in the industry. At the end of the summer, all participants will be invited to attend the graduation ceremony combined with an industry panel discussion and job fair.
The course will be held at the UAW-Ford National Programs Center in Detroit. The cost to attend is free. Click to download the High School Senior/Veteran flyer or the Adult flyer.
For more information, or to apply for the program (application deadline is July 1st), visit the CAM website.