Charlotte invests more than $2M in training for local transportation jobs

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Charlotte is investing more than $2 million in programs to help local workers get the skills to compete for jobs tied to billions of dollars in planned transportation and transit projects.

One of those programs, Skilled to Build, has 19 people in its current class. Participants are in the first week of a four-week boot camp, where they are learning CPR, first aid and job-site safety before starting hands-on construction work.

Katrissa Johnson, who goes by Tee, is a Charlotte native and a mother of four. She said she enrolled because she wanted a career with more financial stability.

“I was working two jobs. And just realizing, working two jobs is still trying to make ends meet. It was like, it’s time for something different and something that I can build a career off of,” Johnson said.

Johnson found out about Skilled to Build while searching for work online. She is one of three women in the class, which is learning the basic first steps of road construction.

“I like working with my hands and I like being outdoors,” Johnson said.

Charlotte is preparing for more than $25 billion in transportation and transit investment over the next 30 years. City leaders said the goal is to make sure people who already live in Charlotte have a chance to benefit from the growth.

The city estimates the investment could create roughly 6,000 jobs over the next 30 years in construction, skilled trades and professional services.

Danielle Frazier, special assistant city manager for workforce development, said the city’s investments are meant to put people on sustainable career paths.

“Whatever we invest in, we’re here to help individuals to be able to get on sustainable career paths. And we do recognize that there are some careers that may not start you right at that livable wage, but certainly putting them on a career path to a sustainable wage. But first it starts with let’s get those skills, let’s get the credentials needed, let’s get them skilled up to be able to qualify and apply for those jobs with these employers,” Frazier said.

The Charlotte Area Fund is working with the city to provide the training. Nicholas Wharton, the fund’s president and CEO, said the program is designed to prepare participants for highway construction.

“What we’re trying to do is provide individuals with the essential competencies, really, to really enter into highway construction in the trade space, right? So they’ll learn about all the careers in highway construction. They’ll also get first aid certification. They’ll learn about, get a flagger certification. They’ll get various certifications, really, that will help them to enter into this industry in a way that’s really going to set them up for more than a living wage job going forward,” Wharton said.

The Charlotte Area Fund also provides transportation, if needed, and childcare assistance. Participants receive a stipend during the four weeks of training.

Frazier said participants still have to apply themselves to get hired.

“Everyone still has to, you gotta show up… sell yourself. And so, but they’re certainly going through programs that will help them be equipped with the technical skills and then we will help to connect them through other partners that we’ve invested in to the actual jobs to do the work,” Frazier said.

Johnson hopes the program leads to new careers and more choices for the next generation.

“That anything is possible, you know. Just go out and do whatever that your heart desires. That’s pretty much it,” Johnson said.

There will be four Skilled to Build programs a year. People can contact the Charlotte Area Fund for more information or sign up on its website.