Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) is taking a new step to address the growing gap of construction trades professionals in northern Michigan. On Friday, the college announced a new articulation agreement with the Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship and Training Fund. That organization provides a variety of apprenticeship programs across five training centers in Michigan, including for carpenters, millwrights, and floor layers. These programs are intended to help individuals interested in these career paths to “develop the skills needed to succeed, find higher paying jobs, and be the best in the industry.”

In its announcement about the new articulation agreement, NMC referenced the boom in career opportunities “for carpenters and other skilled trades workers.” The articulation agreement – which is essentially an agreement for the two entities to work together toward a mutual aim – should improve training opportunities for NMC students pursuing skilled trades careers.

NMC will sign the articulation agreement next Wednesday at the Aero Park Labs building on its Aero Park campus. The signing will occur concurrently with the Michigan Educators Apprenticeship Association conference that will be taking place in Traverse City next week, from May 24-26. As part of the conference, attendees will visit the Aero Park Labs building, which is home to NMC’s programs in construction technology, welding technology, HVAC-R technology, and renewable energy technology. NMC will sign the agreement as part of that session.

Per NMC’s press release about the agreement, the signing is “intended to showcase how industry and education are collaborating to encourage people to enter skilled trades, as well as to offer advanced learning opportunities so journeyman skilled trades workers can advance into leadership positions.”