Mendocino County Construction Corps
New Program to Benefit Local Students and Community
High school seniors interested in the construction trades have an opportunity to participate in a new program called the Mendocino County Construction Corps (MCCC).
Over the course of four months, program participants will learn skills such as workplace safety, framing, electrical wiring, roofing, concrete, plumbing, proper use of power tools, heavy equipment use, first aid and CPR, and more.
Participating applicants will be high school seniors graduating this year who possess a desire to work in the construction field. MCCC has received applications from interested students in Ukiah, Anderson Valley, Willits, and Upper Lake. Instruction will begin February 12.
MCCC will be comprised of 14 two-hour evening training sessions, as well as four Saturday sessions between February 12 and May 21. Local contractors who are experts in their fields will teach the sessions.
After the training sessions, participants will put their new skills to work during a two-week, hands-on boot camp from June 11 through June 22. During the boot camp, participants will help build homes for Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation and Hope City in the Ukiah and Redwood Valleys. Upon completion of the boot camp, recruits will receive a $750 stipend for completing the training.
After the MCCC program is complete, local contractors will be invited to interview the freshly trained program graduates for positions that may pay as much as $17-20 per hour.
MCCC was developed to address the long-term construction worker shortage in our area, a shortage made worse by the devastating fires of late 2017. Ukiah Unified School District, in collaboration with the Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce, Mendocino College, Granite Construction, and many other local contractors and businesses, have come together to offer this program to graduating high school seniors after witnessing the success of a similar program to the south, offered by the Sonoma County chapter of North Coast Builders’ Exchange. In addition to the training, participating students will receive two college units and a $750 stipend for completing the training.
The program will be completely funded by donations from local individuals and businesses. The MCCC group is also seeking grant funding. If any individuals would like to support the effort financially—or to volunteer to interview or supervise participants—please visit https://sites.google.com/uusd.net/mcccwebsite/home and click on the “How Can I Help?” tab.
For more information about participating in or supporting the program, contact Eric Crawford at 707 472-5875 or via email at [email protected].