To pave the way for greater diversity in the highway construction workforce, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), in collaboration with Workforce Development, Inc. and labor union LiUNA, has unrolled a training opportunity designed for adults looking to make inroads into the industry. According to the initiative's bulletin, participants primarily from BIPOC, female, and disadvantaged backgrounds can now register free of charge for the upcoming Trades Readiness Program in Rochester, as detailed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The intensive program, which spans over a mere four weeks, offers participants the tools to gain crucial safety certifications, including flagger certification, and the basics of blueprint interpretation, as per the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Set to commence on August 5 and run through August 30, the curriculum includes not only training in a classroom setting but also construction site tours to provide a real-world perspective of what awaits in their potential career path.
Spotlighting the importance of such programs, Stephan Hansen of Workforce Development, Inc. provided insight into the shared mission of MnDOT and its partners. They are committed to "help them enter the workforce in highway construction," as stated in the released bulletin. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact Stephan Hansen directly at [email protected] for more information or to enroll in the upcoming session.
