Skilled Construction Trades and Respected Contractors

Building Wisconsin Together ^®

Welcome to Construction Business Group's Industry Updates. This monthly e-newsletter will help us communicate the important initiatives that we have underway and relevant updates on issues that impact Wisconsin's construction industry.

Message from Executive Director Robb Kahl

Pre-Apprenticeship Curriculum Highlighted at the IUOE 2023 Convention

The IUOE 40^th General Convention was held April 29 – May 3, 2023. Construction Business Group was honored to have been asked to give a presentation to the entire delegation regarding the Operating Engineers Pre-Apprenticeship curriculum offered to high school students through Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin (“DCA”).

DCA is an online public charter school that is a career and technical education focused high school. Students receive a general high school education but are also allowed to take specialized classes in a career pathway, like construction. DCA’s goal is to have students graduate from high school with more than a high school diploma. DCA is available to students throughout the state, and students may enroll full-time or on a part-time basis.

Local 139 was a founding partner of DCA. In partnership with IUOE’s National Training Fund, Local 139 created a virtual curriculum that is the same as the class-room portion of several of the adult apprenticeship courses. Students who successfully complete the Operating Engineers Pre-Apprenticeship curriculum will have a head start on their adult apprenticeship with Local 139. The classes offered to high school students through DCA are as follows:

Career Explorations

Basic Construction Equipment Fundamentals

Basic Grade and Construction Math

Basic Maintenance of Mobile Equipment

CDL Prep

From the beginning, IUOE General President Callahan has been a vocal supporter of expanding the use of the Operating Engineers Pre-Apprenticeship curriculum to as many states and IUOE locals as possible. CBG has worked extensively with locals in other states over the last 5 years to expand use of the curriculum. While it has taken some time, the curriculum is now being offered in six states, and we are actively coordinating with another six IUOE locals for expansion by the fall of 2023.

As the chart below shows, in the 2022-2023 school year, over 875 students took the operating engineers pre-apprenticeship courses—courses that were developed right here in Wisconsin by your training center staff in collaboration with IUOE. The vast majority of the 875 students are not attending virtual school full-time, but instead on a part-time basis. Meaning, most of these students stay in their local school district and only take one or two courses a semester through a DCA online school.

CBG is proud to work on your behalf to expand the use of your pre-apprenticeship curriculum not only in Wisconsin, but throughout North America.

Building Wisconsin Together®

TrANS program adopts new name and new opportunity to employ DCA graduates

The WisDOT pre-apprenticeship program formally known as TrANS has taken on a new look. In addition to Highway Construction Skills Training (HCST) program being the new name, there is now an opportunity to combine Destinations Career Academy (DCA) online courses with 450 hours of paid youth apprenticeship experience and HCST employer ASP-1 reimbursement.

We made a recommendation to WisDOT to expand the eligibility of HCST (formerly TrANS) certification to high school students that have completed the DCA coursework. Under this model, HCST competencies are met through a combination of high school preparation, DCA online coursework, supplementary training and certification by the 139 Training Center, and 450 hours of paid YA experience with a contractor.

James Peterson Sons piloted this program last year with a high school senior that completed the DCA coursework at Medford High School. Forward Services Corporation, the TrANS provider, evaluated the coursework offered at Medford High School and Destinations Career Academy (DCA) to determine the additional skills and certification necessary to be a HCST (TrANS) graduate. Dan Sperberg, Local 139’s Training Director, was able to assist the student in completing the remaining training.

Given the ongoing need to bring new apprentices into the industry, WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson has supported this recommendation and is particularly pleased with the opportunity to partner with educators. Having the DCA coursework approved as a Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Program by the State of Wisconsin was an important factor as direct alignment into Registered Apprentice is a priority.

In anticipation of the 94 East-West Corridor workforce needs, we encouraged WisDOT to reach out to Employ Milwaukee to seek a federal YouthBuild grant to fund a cohort of out-of-school youth that could prepare for employment through the HCST program. Conversations have also already started with the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Director of Milwaukee Public Schools about offering the DCA curriculum through MPS in order for students to participate.

There are 50 high school seniors enrolled in DCA this semester that are seeking employment in our industry. Now that these students qualify for ASP-1 reimbursement, contractors have extra incentive to employ these students as youth apprentices, prior to applying for registered apprenticeship.

Additional details will be rolled out soon. If you have any questions on this new opportunity to hire youth already interested and engaged in the construction industry, please contact Laura Cataldo at laura.cataldo@bakertilly.com

Laura Cataldo

Director

Industry News

Myth and the Permitting of Aggregate Mines

Nothing is more important to the construction industry than rock. Whether sand, gravel, crushed stone or blocks of stone, rock is used in everything from road building and concrete to countless building products, including drywall, insulation and glass.

Rock is heavy and used in enormous quantities, so there is an obvious efficiency in locating sources close to consumers. Doing so means reduced haul distances, cleaner air, less heavy truck congestion, lower cost to consumers and that the money spent to purchase, process and transport this essential resource remains in the local community. But the siting and permitting of gravel pits and quarries is growing ever more difficult.

'Signing Day' held for Fox Valley youth apprentices entering skilled trades careers

APPLETON, Wis. (WLUK) -- Twenty-five area students either took the first step -- or next step -- in their construction careers Wednesday morning.

Boldt Construction celebrated its youth apprentices with a "signing day."

These apprentices are committing to pursue a career in the skilled trades, a sector in high demand due to large labor shortages.

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"National Signing Day" is known as the day where high school student-athletes' dreams become reality.

"We always see athletes at schools, they sign before they go off to college and we thought that'd be a great idea to incorporate that with the trades people that are going to be starting with the Boldt Company," said Rob Branyan, vice president of labor relations.

Construction Business Group | 608-240-4170 | www.cbgwi.com