Members of the Workforce Development Program from JCC and the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier, Daryl Damcott, Shannon Rinow, Grant Umberger and John Healy, presented to the City Council on their program and use of ARPA funds from the city. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

City Council members recently received an update on two ARPA-funded workforce training programs at Jamestown Community College.

The Workforce Development Program at Jamestown Community College and the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier had team members present during the most recent council meeting. The team presenting was made up of Daryl Damcott, Shannon Rinow, Grant Umberger and John Healey, from the Workforce Development Program and the Builders Exchange.

Healey said the group had signed a contract with the city for this program about two years ago. He said the program is off to a really good start with two separate programs; one at the high school level and another at JCC. Healey said they are very happy with the instructors and partnerships they have on the teaching side of the program as well.

“We have nine instructors that are teaching at the college level,” Rinow said. “They all come from industry, which is great. They can talk the talk and walk the walk.”

Additionally, Rinow said the program uses NCCER curriculum, which is a national curriculum covering a lot of different units, including for students who may not want to go into college yet and do not know what they want to do. The curriculum exposes students to many different areas in construction, she said. Rinow covered some of the items students can learn, all geared towards them entering the work force, along with teaching them job ready soft skills. A few things have also been added for the upcoming fall semester.

“They’re really coming out of this with a better understanding of what they want to do in the workforce,” Rinow said. “They’re learning what they like and what they don’t like. Some of our students have said, ‘you know what, I don’t like masonry but I like electrical.’ That’s another thing we’re excited that they’re learning from it.”

Damcott talked on the JHS side of the program, saying they have two cohorts with the program that 18 students have made it through and six are pursuing the trade they chose further. About half of the courses offered at the JCC level are offered in the high school section, and a few students are continuing in the program at the college level.

Rinow said a few students are working in the trades already and they are already recruiting for the fall, with some changes to be made for the fall as well, such as some reduction in the classroom part of the class to add more hands-on experience. OSHA-10 training and certification for construction will be provided with the class.

The new program will start at JCC Sept. 16 and the JHS section starts again in January. More online learning outside of the classroom will also be included to help people who need more flexibility with their schedules.

Healey said ARPA money given to them from the city still remains and they are looking into more grants and funding options for the future.

“Right now we’re thrilled to have two programs at the college and high school level and students enrolled and great instructors and team working on this,” Healy said. “Thanks to the city for getting this all started.”

Rinnow added that she was excited to be a part of the program, saying that it is said that more people are needed in the trades so training such as what is offered in the program needs to continue. More information on the Workforce Development Program can be found at sunyjcc.edu/workforce.