Philadelphia, PA (December 16, 2011) This program is being made possible as a result of a grant awarded to the Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid Atlantic Region (FTI) from the Green Jobs Innovation Fund of the U.S. Department of Labor. The FTI is partnering with the Finishing Trades Institute of Western Pennsylvania (FTI WPA) to provide training to 1900 participants.
Applications are now being accepted for a four week Tri-Green Pre-Apprenticeship Programto be held at the FTI facility in eight locations starting in January 2012. The program, which is available at no cost, is designed for persons interested in pursuing careers in the building trades and other green industries.
The Tri-Green Pre-Apprenticeship Program is intended for out-of-school youth, unemployed / dislocated workers, women and veterans interested in learning more about the trades. It will include classroom and hands-on training which is intended to:
- Introduce individuals to the construction industry as a whole;
- Provide training in basic job skills such as communication, problem solving and teamwork as well as in applied building trades mathematics and technologies;
- Familiarize students with a variety of related tools;
- Facilitate hands-on training in painting finishing, glazing and weatherization, using, among other teaching tools, virtual reality simulators for painting, welding and sand-blasting;
- Extend college credits; and
- Support transition into building trades apprenticeships.
“Green building code education is something that is needed for all of our members,” said Ron Kozain, Director of the IUPAT District Council 57 Training and Apprenticeship Center. “As the regulations for environmentally friendly design increase, we need to educate our members and employers towards a new way of approaching jobs, including green standards for efficiency, sustainability and recycling.”
Participants who successfully complete the program will receive OSHA 10, First Aid/CPR and Green Advantage certifications. In addition, graduates will receive 10 college credits toward an Associate Degree through Mountwest Community and Technical College through an FTI partnership.
To be eligible to register for the program, applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Have a valid drivers’ license (or be working towards one); and
- Have a high school diploma or a GED (or be working towards one).
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, employment in the construction trades is expected to increase by 14 percent over the next five years. Much of that growth will be in green jobs. Green jobs in the glazing, painting and drywall industries include the use of sustainable materials, a reduction in toxic materials, and retrofitting current facilities for energy efficiency.
About Green Advantage: Launched in 1998, Green Advantage®Certification was created with support from the US EPA, SAIC, The Nature Conservancy, and the University of Florida. Individuals attaining Green Advantage (GA) Certification have passed the Green Advantage Certification Exam®, demonstrating practical knowledge of current green building principles, materials, and techniques as well as the rationale for green building. Commercial, Residential, and Commercial/Residential certifications are available, with a specific exam required for each. Because the green building field is rapidly changing, candidates must become recertified every three years in order to maintain Green Advantage Certification. Green Advantage Certification is primarily designed for construction field personnel: contractors, subcontractors, trades people, architects, engineers, and others in the building industry. Green Advantage, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Green Advantage®and GA Exam®are registered trademarks of Green Advantage, Inc. Visit www.greenadvantage.org for more information.
Contact:
For FTI:
For more information about the Tri-Green Certificate Program and the Pre-Apprenticeship Program or to apply, visit http://www.fti.edu/.
For Green Advantage:
Liz Boastfield
ces@greenadvantage.org
Green Advantage, Inc.
P.O. Box 3170
Frederick, Maryland, 21705
540-822-9449 x 105