Marion County organizations create carpentry apprenticeship

The Marion County Building Industry Association has agreed to collaborate with Marion Technical College to develop a carpentry apprenticeship program for Marion County and the surrounding areas.

The planned four-year apprenticeship will involve full-time employment in addition to classes during the program. Apprentices will work 40 hours a week with various local companies and attend six hours of classes every week for nine months every year of the program.

The apprenticeship program will allow students to get a taste of the industry while making standard wages and attending classes. Classes will be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

The program is scheduled to begin in January 2021. Applications for students and business owners who would like to be a part of the program can be found on the Marion County Building Industry Association’s website. Those who are new to carpentry may be expected to work for a contractor first. According to the Marion County Building Industry Association, recent upticks in the economy have created a need for more carpenters.

The carpentry apprenticeship program with the Marion County Building Industry Association is just another program of many at Marion Technical College. The college has programs across nine different categories, such as public safety, manufacturing, information technology and human services.