1. School City of Hammond Construction Projects
New Hammond Jr./Sr.High School
District-Wide Facility Improvements
Career Fair July 24, 2019

2. Career Fair Goals Increase Public Awareness
Outline Opportunities For Hammond and Minority Businesses
Clarify Apprenticeship Process & Requirements
Encourage Diversity In The Building Trades
Answer Your Questions 2

3. Project Team Owner: School City of Hammond
Construction Manager: The Skillman Corporation / Advance Construction Services
Design Team: Schmidt & Associates 3

4. Skillman / Advance Philosophy & Approach
Promote, Encourage and Facilitate the participation of Local and Minority, Women and/or Veteran Owned Businesses and Labor in a manner that will provide long-term, sustainable opportunities for participants.
We will work closely with all local entities and offer assistance to any business or individual who seeks the opportunity to get involved.

5. Construction Schedule
Complete New School: August 2021
Demolition of Existing School: June 2021
Complete Project: November 2021
District –Wide Projects 5

6. Opportunities For Hammond And Minority Businesses
Bid Package #3
Earthwork
General Trade
Electrical
Bid Package #4
Demolition of Existing Building
Asphalt Paving/Landscaping
District Wide Projects
Construction Cleanup 6 6

7. 7

8. Diversity in Construction
How the Indiana Plan for Equal Employment is working to increase the participation of women and minorities in the Building Trades.

9. Low Participation in the Building Trades
Common assumptions people of color have about joining the construction industry:
It’s for individuals who struggle thru academic studies in high school and/or college
You don’t have to research or plan for the apprenticeship application process
You need construction experience to gain acceptance into an apprenticeship
You need a family connection to become involved

10. Union Construction Industry
The union construction industry has an important distinctions:
Workers are represented by a local union, and the employer is represented by a contractor association.
The aspects of pay, working conditions, working hours, etc. are covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that both parties agree to work by.
This partnership typically leads to higher pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions than non-CBA construction.

11. Local Union Structure Your local union generally has two parts:
Union Hall
Staffed by Business Manager and possible agents
Handles work referrals and general issues
Oversees healthcare and retirement benefits
Training Facility (Apprenticeship)
Staffed by Training Director and possible staff
Handles applications and interviews
Oversees training of new apprentices
Oversee extra training for Journey-people

12. What is an Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a system in which workers train on-the-job, earning wages and doing productive work, while also taking school courses
When someone completes an apprenticeship, they’ll have valuable work experience and a recognized industry credential
Apprenticeships generally last from one to four years, though some last up to six. 12

13. Acceptance into an Apprenticeship
Most apprenticeships have a two step process for acceptance:
Aptitude Test
An exam testing mastery level of general math, applied math, spatial awareness, and reading comprehension. Minimal score needed to move to next step.
Interview
A 6 to 8 person panel will interview applicant and score them accordingly.
The cumulative score of the aptitude test and interview is ranked against all the applicants in the last two years. When the next class is accepted they take the top applicants on the ranked list of applicants.

14. Living Wages and Benefits
Free training as an Apprentice
Apprentices’ average starting wage is $15
Average periodic raise of 5% (or $2-$3) every 6 months with satisfactory work/school evaluations
Average wage for graduates are $40/hr plus benefits
Healthcare Insurance with 3 months of continuous employment
Employer funded retirement plan

15. What is the Indiana Plan?
The Indiana Plan’s mission is to increase participation among underrepresented people in the union trades
We began state-wide in1970 and have been in continuous operation in Northwest Indiana since 1995
Our 80 hour (2 week) program goes over various topics designed to prepare individuals for the apprenticeship application process

16. Program Outline
Introduction to Construction Math/Spatial Awareness with a focus for passing the various Trades’ aptitude test
Mock interviews tailored for the interview portion of the multi-step apprenticeship application process (supervised and critiqued by a union tradesperson)
Tours of Apprenticeship facilities w/ presentations by Apprenticeship Coordinators and/or Union officials
OSHA 10 certification for general construction site safety
BCRC card proving compliance with the stringent Construction Trades’ drug free policy
Eligibility to be placed on a job-site, with a signatory contractor, to receive on the job training for the purpose of building a resume for their apprenticeship application process.
A year of personal, ongoing mentoring by the Area Director as the trainee embarks on their apprenticeship application process

17. Community Outreach
Annual Construction and Skilled Trades Day hosted with Construction Advancement Foundation and Center of Workforce Innovation
90% Trade participation with average attendance of area high schoolers in the hundreds
Co-sponsor of the City of East Chicago Bi-Annual Career Fair
Advisory Board Member of Gary Area Career Center and Hammond Area Career Center
Attend the monthly meetings of the Gary Commission on the Social Status of Black Males
Coordinating monthly outreach presentations with WorkOne

18. THANK YOU
ANY QUESTIONS?