Augusta Technical College is bringing a program to train multiple disciplines within the building trades in a minimal amount of time.
Construction Ready is an Atlanta-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that believes careers in the skilled trades should be just as important as those requiring four-year degrees. Formerly known as the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), it focuses on skills training for the construction industry.
The program will be offered at Augusta Tech in March.
“It is 20-day boot camp offering individuals from the community to come in and learn skill sets to be able to be employed in construction jobs, specifically commercial jobs,” Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Augusta Tech told ABD.
Whirl said when construction of the new James Brown Arena became a reality, he knew it was a suitable time to offer the program locally.
“Most people know that the new Falcon stadium was built by mostly local residents in the Atlanta metro area, and this was the program that trained those folks in 20 days to be able to build that stadium,” he explained. “We’ve had it here in Augusta two times. Now they’re coming back for a third iteration offering those free programs to our community.”
The new JBA is just one of many large-scale construction projects already underway or coming to Metro Augusta.
From Aurubis Richmond LLC and GF Casting Solutions in the Augusta Corporate Park, to Meta in Aiken County’s Sage Mill Industrial Park and TMC Transformers and Ritz Instrument coming to the Burke County Industrial Park, local economic development officials said the region is experiencing a construction boom.
Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA), previously told ABD he anticipates thousands of construction jobs created to build CF Casting Solutions, PureCycle Technologies, Inc., and the next phase of the Aurubis Richmond, LLC plant.
“Probably 400 to 500 construction jobs ongoing, two contractors out on site with Gray Construction and Evans General Contractors, as they complete phase two, already looking at phase three,” he said. “GF is getting ready to kick off. Evans General Contractors has that project as well. They already have their trailers set up out there for construction trailers. You’re going to end up with probably 300-plus construction jobs out there at any given time. PureCycle Technologies, Inc. will kick off in December with their grading work as they move on into the building of their facility.”
That’s in addition to major expansion projects underway at Standard Aero and Synesqo in Richmond County and the conversion of the failed Mixed Oxide (MOX) plant to begin Pit production at the Savannah River Site in Aiken County.
Whirl said the four-week program provides what is essentially a crash course in skills necessary for construction jobs.
“They’ll get eight national certifications at no charge to them that really range from OSHA to forklift to everything in between,” he said. “It allows them to be able to go into any site and be safe number one and know the basics of being able to do multiple jobs. And then from there, they’re gaining employment with many of our local contractors.”
There is no charge for the program, but those interested need to register no later than Feb. 4. Successful applicants must be able to pass a drug test. Individuals previously incarcerated or impacted by the justice system are eligible.
The program runs March 10 through April 4 at Building 600 on the Augusta Tech campus.
Register at https://constructionready.org/get-trained/
