News & Updates

ValleyBuild Programs Graduate Skilled Students Ready for Work

**Apprenticeship readiness graduates in Stockton celebrateed their accomplishments at an April event.**

ValleyBuild programs around the 14-county region graduated 50 students during the first quarter of 2022, and more classes are forming to train men and women for solid, good-paying jobs in construction industry trades.

In March, five students graduated from the Merced County MC3 program – the first in the area under ValleyBuild. In collaboration with Worknet Merced County, the Merced County Office of Education handled the training that featured a variety of local trades.

Graduation ceremonies were held in March in Merced for the first area program under ValleyBuild.

Another 11 students in Stockton successfully completed training through California Human Development, graduating in early April. It was the third class to graduate from the ValleyBuild MC3 Apprenticeship Readiness Program.

The largest graduating classes came from Fresno and Kern counties. Seventeen students graduated from each of the programs in February, with Kern County turning out its first class under the ValleyBuild banner.

In Kern County, training was provided by the Kern, Inyo, Mono Building Trades Council and more than half the 17 graduates quickly landed jobs. Students learned about eight different trades along with green construction, financial literacy, HR Diversity/Sexual Harassment training, Occupational Safety (OSHA10), CPR/First Aid, construction math, electrical theory, basic circuitry and testing and more. Students also were required to participate in physical training at a local gym.

In Fresno, the training provider was the Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare Counties Building and Construction Trades. Ten trades were represented, and students completed community projects with Animal Rescue of Fresno and Habitat for Humanity. All 17 students enrolled successfully completed the training.

Maribel Andres graduated with an apprenticeship offer to the Cement Masons. Three students graduated with offers to join Plumbers and Pipefitters and two graduated with offers to interview at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

More rounds of training have started or are scheduled to begin soon throughout the 14-county ValleyBuild region. Classes began in April in Merced, and classes are scheduled this month in Fresno, Modesto and Bakersfield.

Also on the calendar are training programs for June in Stockton, October in Bakersfield and January 2023 in Fresno.

A women’s only cohort is planned to start in August in Fresno. For more information about upcoming training programs, visit the ValleyBuild website at https://valleybuild.net.