July 8, 2008 - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today will recognize the first group of individuals who completed the Road Construction Apprenticeship Readiness Program (RCAR), at a state ceremony held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. The program, which prepares underrepresented individuals for careers in road construction, is an important element of Granholm's comprehensive plan to grow the state's economy.
"We're putting people to work and improving our roads," said Granholm. "Training workers for the good-paying jobs available now, including those in road construction, is a key component of our economic plan."
Launched in April, the Road Construction Apprenticeship Readiness Program is part of Granholm's ongoing economic agenda, which includes accelerating $150 million in road projects over the next two years. The tuition-paid, fast-track, customized training equips women, minorities, and low-income individuals with the skills and certification needed to enter and succeed in road construction apprenticeships.
The Department of Labor & Economic Growth and the Department of Transportation created the ambitious program designed to address the growing number of retirements in the construction industry. By 2015, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that nearly 50 percent of construction workers will be age 54 or older.
"We're dealing with an aging workforce and aging roads," said Keith W. Cooley director of the Department of Labor & Economic Growth. "Building good roads lead to good jobs, and the RCAR program helps ensures a tight fit between people trained and jobs available. Getting apprenticeships can be competitive and those who wouldn't otherwise have this opportunity are now job-ready."
Participants completed an intensive five-week program that included 150 hours of training in job readiness skills, applied math, computer applications, blueprint reading, workplace safety, and overview of the road construction trades. Assessment and training was coordinated through Michigan Works! Agencies. Candidates were selected from three targeted areas with the highest percentage of road construction projects: Metro Detroit, Southwest Michigan (Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor), and the Saginaw-Midland-Bay area.
"With RCAR, we've been able to maximize and align federal, state, and local resources to educate and prepare the pool of workers that we need now and in the future," said Kirk T. Steudle, director of the Department of Transportation.
The Road Construction Apprenticeship Readiness Program is under the Road Construction Workforce Development Program and is supported with funds from the Federal Highway Administration. The collaboration includes the skilled trades, organized labor, education providers, Gamaliel of Michigan, Michigan Works!, and others that have made RCAR a national model for apprenticeship readiness and success.
Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth press releases.
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