U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary and Job Corps National Director help cut the ribbon on a new career path in South Florida

Miami Job Corps Center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13th to debut their new Glazing, Pre-Apprentice training program. The event featured remarks from U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su and Job Corps National Director Rachel Torres.

“Now, more than ever, we need to strengthen and diversify the pipeline into good union jobs through proven strategies like pre-apprenticeship,” said Su in a press release. “This administration is kicking off an infrastructure decade that calls for a generational investment in America’s workforce, with training programs like this that are tailored for young people.”

The Glazing, Pre-Apprentice program is offered at four Job Corps centers nationwide—Atterbury, Long Beach, Tongue Point and now Miami. The training area aims to teach students to cut, shape and install glass, among other applications of the material, on construction sites.

Ribbon cutting for new-apprenticeship program

“Finding skilled entry-level workers in today’s job market can be a challenge. Job Corps can be a solution,” Torres said in a press release. “Partnership is what makes the machine run. At the local level, this means Job Corps campuses’ partnering with unions and local businesses. They have an opportunity to shape the training and establish pipelines to entry-level skilled labor.”

Daniella Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County, also attended the ceremony, joined by representatives from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), the labor organization that played a pivotal role in bringing the Glazing, Pre-Apprentice training program to Miami Job Corps Center.

“At the Department of Labor, we want Job Corps to be the infrastructure academy of the United States,” Su affirmed. “And we’re moving one step closer to that goal here today in Miami.”

BACKGROUND

Job Corps is a federal career technical training and education program for young people who aspire to higher-paying careers and higher education. With over 120 residential and nonresidential locations nationwide, training is available in the nation’s fastest-growing industries to eligible 16- through 24-year-olds. The program is free of charge for students. To learn more about Job Corps, call (800) 733-JOBS or visit jobcorps.gov. Visit Miami Job Corps’ website at Miami.jobcorps.gov.

This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.