9 | 2024 IMPACT REPORT Building Futures: Tri-County PreApprenticeship Program Equips the Next Generation of Skilled Tradespeople TThe Monterey Bay Area Tri-County Collaborative, serving Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties, offers a construction pre-apprenticeship program to empower underserved young adults. Sponsored by the Monterey County Workforce Development Board, Local 62 Plumbers and Steamfitters, and the Monterey/Santa Cruz Counties Building & Construction Trades Council, this program prepares participants for careers in the skilled trades. Now in its ninth year, the program recently celebrated the graduation of 14 pre-apprentices, many of whom are pursuing apprenticeships in various trades. The ten-week pre-apprenticeship program combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction, providing skills needed for high-demand careers offering middle-class wages. The program’s Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) introduces students to different trades and the skills required for each. Students gain hands-on experience in safety protocols, blueprint reading, welding, drywalling, sheetrock installation, and construction grading, which is essential for preparing building sites. In the final weeks, they practice concrete pouring, tape measuring, using power tools, and building framing fundamentals. These skills ensure students are job-ready for the construction industry. Program instructor Greg Venegas supports each student in refining their career aspirations, whether entering a specific trade or continuing education. Even after graduation, the program remains committed to students by offering career support for up to a year. The construction pre-apprenticeship program stands as a testament to the Collaborative’s dedication to fostering opportunities and paving the way for fulfilling careers in the skilled trades
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