Apprenticeship Ready Program connects students with trade jobs

MINERAL WELLS, W.Va. (WTAP) – As a young adult, figuring out what you want to do with your life is a decision that isn’t easy to make.

One event is hoping to help in this decision making process by giving students hands on experiences.

The Apprenticeship Ready Program is June 24th-28th at the WV Laborers Training Center in Mineral Wells, 307 Tracewell Road, Mineral Wells,

There will be a recognition luncheon on Friday to help celebrate the youth. Family will be invited to this to help them support their students in their success.

Bill Monterosso, the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board Mid-Ohio Valley, explained that the Apprenticeship Ready Program is.

“The Apprenticeship Ready Program is a collaboration between the Workforce Development Board of the MOV and the Parkersburg Marietta Trades Council to assist young adults in learning about the opportunities [in] working for local trades and to assess and gain skills needed to apply and be successful. The program will offer tours of the local training facilities, virtual reality and other simulation experience, hands on activities, guest speakers, interaction/mentoring by experienced craftsmen, and assistance from Workforce Development Professionals through a pop up job center. The week is being funded by the Cty of Parkersburg and the Appalachian Regional Commission.”

Monterosso said this will be great opportunity for the students in our area.

“Skilled trades offer high demand [and] high paying career opportunities without the cost of higher education. The Apprenticeship Ready Program will help these young people gain an understanding of the diverse career options and enable them to choose their path rather than settle for one. This is an economic development initiative that will help increase our communities’ labor participation rate and work towards meeting the manpower needs of our local trades.”

The event is targeted to individuals 18-24 years old as well as incoming and recently graduated seniors, according to Monterosso.

If you’d like to sign up, you can call 681-313-3365 or email vr@wdbmov.com.

Monterosso also highlighted another event for 8th-11th graders on July 10th – 12. He said this will be a similar event, just scaled down a bit.

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