Jan. 31 event will outline new NVCC program

Certificate designed to address construction worker shortage

WATERBURY (Jan. 23, 2007) — On Wednesday, Jan. 31, Naugatuck Valley Community College will host an open house to describe its new 90-hour “Introduction to Construction” certificate program, which is designed to help address the shortage of trained workers in the construction industry.

The free open house will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Founders Hall, Room F221B, on NVCC’s main campus, located at 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, off exit 18 on Interstate 84. Registration is required by calling (203) 575-8029.

The first session for the “Introduction to Construction” program begins Feb. 26 and includes daytime classes. The second begins March 26 and includes evening classes. The program offers a comprehensive starting point for individuals interested in a construction career who want to position themselves as desirable job candidates.

Like the nursing shortage nationwide, the construction industry is in desperate need of trained workers for positions that pay well.

There are an estimated 250,000 construction jobs that go unfilled every year, according to the National Center for Construction Education and Research. In Connecticut, despite the homebuilding slowdown, the number of construction jobs is predicted to rise almost 7 percent in the 10 years ending in 2014 as homeowners continue to do more renovations.

In an effort to address the worker shortage locally, the Center for Business and Industry Training at NVCC partnered with the Construction Education Center Inc., a non-profit construction training organization in Rocky Hill, to develop NVCC’s new construction certificate.

The certificate includes topics like “Introduction to Blue Print Reading,” “Introduction to Construction Math” and “Introduction to Hand Tools & Power Tools” and more.

NVCC serves more than 10,000 students from 35 communities across western Connecticut from Litchfield to Waterbury to Seymour to Southbury and Danbury.