Keystone Today

Pennsylvania’s Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Grant Program has been integral in helping train future workers across the commonwealth, and on Sept. 2, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that $297,000 will go to Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 9 to fund the Western Pennsylvania Bricklayers Masonry Training Program.

Wolf praised the allocation of funds and highlighted the need for skilled workers in Pennsylvania.

“There is great demand for skilled workers in the trowel trades, especially in western Pennsylvania,” Wolf said in a news release. “This new funding will help the training program continue, and through it, BAC Local 9 will be able to help meet the industry’s demand.”

The training program involves courses for apprentices to learn aspects of the trade like bricklaying, tile setting, stone masonry and terrazzo work. They will be taught by journeymen from Local 9. It is a four-year program, and during that time, a journeyman completes 6,000 hours of job training and 576 hours of classroom and lab training.

“We sincerely appreciate this investment and confidence in the Western Pennsylvania Bricklayers Masonry Training Program,” Norm Ringer, president of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 9, said. “This contribution will assist us in providing a strong foundation for anyone interested in starting a career in the masonry trades.”

The funds allotted through the grant program will help Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 9 to continue its apprenticeship program in the following 29 counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cameron, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, McKean, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland.

Throughout Wolf’s time in office, he has worked to invest funds into the Pennsylvania Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Program to help with the state’s workforce in a number of sectors. Eighty-four pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs have been supported, and $13 million has been invested in the program in total.