Summer Program at The Rivet Aims to Help Launch Construction Careers

The Rivet at Discovery Space, 1224 N. Atherton St., is offering a boot camp to help participants launch careers as construction professionals.

Introduction to the Construction Industry Summer Boot Camp is a weeklong program for just beginning in the industry, preparing them to get started in a trade or land a construction job. It is designed for anyone who is trying to find work in construction for the first time, just starting a construction job with little or no specific training or changing careers to enter a trade or construction job.

“Workforce development is so important in the post-pandemic economy,” Discovery Space executive director Michele Crowl said in a news release. “From the beginning, it’s been a core goal of The Rivet. We’re proud to introduce community members to the trades and support them in their professional growth.”

The week-long course (July 19-23) at Discovery Space’s community workshop and makerspace includes basic safety, hand tools, small power tools, material handling, construction drawings and basic rigging, as well as communication and employability skills.

Students will receive a hard copy of the “NCCER Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills,” materials and tools.

A construction professional will teach the course, with guest speakers from local trades and building companies providing insight and expertise.

The standard cost of the program is $575, but thanks to support from the Hamer Foundation, participants who agree to report back on the impact of the program over the following 18 months can register for just $100.

A limited number of full scholarships are available to those for whom the cost would be a financial hardship.

The program is open to ages 14 and up.

To register for the boot camp and more information on programs at The Rivet, visit therivet.org/classes-and-events/.