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Date: 10/28/2020
HILLTOWNS – Community Works, a free pre-apprenticeship program that prepares men and women for a career in the construction and transportation industries, is now accepting Hilltown residents into its program.
Community Works has nearly a decade of experience helping residents of the greater Springfield/ Holyoke area get into the building/construction trades, with a specific focus on women, people of color, and veterans.
It is registered with the State of Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Standards, the Massachusetts Eligible Training Provider list (ETPL), and has Section 30 approval as a Training Opportunity Program with the Department of Unemployment Assistance. Community Works is funded by a grant from the MassDOT.
Lead instructor Greg Garfield, a resident of Blandford, said he wanted to open the opportunity up to people in the hilltowns. “We are looking for more diversity in our outreach. I had asked my director, how about recruiting out of the hilltowns,” Garfield said, adding that there are a lot of people out here who might be interested in changing their careers.
“The people who have been actually working through the coronavirus are the tradespeople, and there’s such a demand,” Garfield said.
All applicants to Community Works must first attend a brief information session to understand the program and receive an application. Applicants must: be 18 years or older, have a high school degree or equivalent, be authorized to work in the U.S., pass drug test, pass a physical testing, consisting of a ladder climb and other tasks, pass a basic test for math and reading, and have a driver’s license and a registered working vehicle.
Garfield said students will receive their OSHA 10 certification, which is safety related. They will also do some construction math testing, which he said is needed in any of the trades to be successful. He also does some blueprint reading with students. Speakers from different fields also give an overview of their trades to students.
“I’m also emphasizing soft skills; show up early, show up every day, work hard, get along with people. If you can do that, you can be successful in just about anything,” Garfield said.
Students that finish the course get their OSHA 10 card, First Aid AED/CPR, and Flagger Certification, along with some hand tools to help get them started in their chosen trade, Garfield said. He said they’ve had graduating students go into carpenters unions, laborers unions, and go to work for contractors on the turnpike and a lot of different construction companies.
“We just had a young man start at the Southwick DPW. We do assist with job placement. We like to have positive outcomes for our students,” Garfield said, adding, “After spending a few days outside, some people decide this isn’t for them.”
The seven-week class, which begins Dec. 1 and ends in February, with a holiday break, will offer online and onsite training, some of it at Habitat for Humanity construction sites in Springfield. Classes are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There are 20 slots available for the class, and registration closes Nov. 12.
To learn more and to register for an informational session, go to https://communityworks.umasscreate.net or call 584-1472.