Budish Announces New Initiative Aimed at Training People for Construction Jobs, While Focusing on Equity

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH - On June 4 Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish announced new initiatives aimed at training people for good paying jobs in the building trades, while focusing on minorities. Pending County Council approval of a new collective bargaining agreement, the County, in partnership with Cleveland Builds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping candidates find opportunities in construction, will provide pre-employment education and training for electricians, carpenters, plumbers, and other building trades.

Under the proposed collective bargaining agreement, Cleveland Builds will reach out to the community to encourage people to consider a career in the building trades, with a focus on recruitment in minority communities.

“Construction and trades jobs are good paying jobs, and we want to help people get these good paying jobs leading to a career. I am pleased to announce this proposed partnership with Cleveland Builds so we can do just that,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “At the same time, we’ll be creating a more diverse workforce.”

The County will participate as a sponsoring employer with Cleveland Builds by providing paid work opportunities and training through a pre-apprenticeship program. The County will then hire the pre-apprentices as temporary, full-time employees, focusing on providing job opportunities for female and minority tradespeople.

Each participant will be placed with a County Public Works Department Journeymen Trades Foreman who will serve as their mentor while they are employed by the County for two months. Participants will then enter a full apprenticeship in a trade after their employment with Public Works.

The County, which employs over 100 trades persons, typically hires building trades people from a list of ten qualified candidates provided by the Building Trades Council.

Under a second initiative, these lists will contain at least 30 percent minorities and women, helping the County ensure more people of color and women get into good paying trades jobs.