A new program launched at Aiken Technical College, envisioned as a short-term way to address thousands of construction jobs at the Savannah River Site, could turn into a regular offering.
“My expectation is that’s going to be short term for the immediate need, but that need is so great that we’ll probably be running these courses for quite some time,” Dr. Steven Simmons, Dean of the School of Technical and Continuing Education told ABD. “One of the benefits is that the state of South Carolina has allocated a lot of resources to the community and technical colleges in the way of tuition to be able to encourage citizens to pursue a technical education and a degree and a career for the high paid, high skilled jobs.”
As ABD reported Wednesday, Aiken Tech has created a pre-apprenticeship class to develop a pipeline specifically for the construction underway at the plant. The program is a partnership among the plant and more than 15 local trade unions.
Simmons said the plant has unique needs, based on the number and size of projects already underway, and others kicking off in 2025.
“Residential construction has typically been able to hire people and train them themselves, and that’s still the normal route in which someone enters into the construction field train,” he said. “However, there are large construction projects that are happening at Savannah River Site, and most of the building trade unions, like the IBEW and the Pipefitters Union and others, are in need of new members to join the unions, to be enrolled in their apprenticeship program to work on these projects that are happening out at Savannah River Site.”
The magnitude of the need was detailed by Dennis Carr, President and CEO of SRNS, during a “Good Morning North Augusta” breakfast, sponsored by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce.
Carr said the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) could mean 3,500 workers during the construction phase. The project is currently in the design phase. They hope to begin construction in 2025.
“We have a lot of programs that are out there,” said Carr. “We’re now with 22 approved apprenticeship programs in the state of South Carolina. And the genius of the program is it allows us to pay folks a living wage, while they are making a career transformation to come work in a nuclear facility.”
While SRS may currently have the greatest need for skilled labor for SRPPF construction and other projects on-site, a recent announcement could also prompt Aiken Tech to consider extending the pre-apprenticeship classes.
“I was very pleased to hear that the Meta project was announced,” said Simmons. “I’m still working to uncover the details of what types of positions will be needed out there, but the pre-construction apprenticeship program comes at a good time for them as well. I don’t know who has the contracts to be able to build their site, but certainly this could be a pipeline for those contractors at the Meta facility building.”
Signups are open for this first cohort that begins Oct. 7. Classes will be Monday through Thursday, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
“Students will come through a very short week, five-week class, about 20 hours a week, where they’re learning the basics of employability, hand tools, power tools, safety, how to read a blueprint,” Simmons outlined. “We have a close relationship with several of the building trade unions, but we’re looking for this project to help us draw even closer with the building trade unions in the CSRA and begin to establish more of a relationship and a pipeline of our graduates coming into their apprenticeship halls.”
Classes will be in the evening, but Simmons said if demand is high enough, they may add daytime classes. This is tuition-free for South Carolina residents. Tuition is $1,000 for out-of-state residents, but Simmons said they are trying to secure funding to help with the cost. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED.
To sign up, contact Patricia Whitfield in the Office of Continuing Education at (803) 508-7362 or whitfiep@atc.edu.
To explore additional apprenticeships at SRS, visit: www.srs.gov/general/outreach/apprenticeship/apprenticeship_school.htm.
