Kootenai News
Kootenai County's Mfg/Construction Career Day April 15
Apr 4, 2008, 08:43
Hundreds of middle school and high school students are signed up for Kootenai County's first-ever Manufacturing and Construction Career Day on April 15 at the county fairgrounds.
Dubbed "Hard Hats, Hammers and Hot Dogs," the event will give young people first-hand information on the many skills and crafts in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
After orientation and under supervision, they will be able to operate heavy equipment if they choose and try their hand at any one of many trades from brick laying and welding to surveying and trim carpentry.
"The manufacturing and construction industries are facing a severe shortage of skilled workers, a shortage that affects their quality, safety and overall ability to meet the infrastructure needs of an ever-growing population," said event coordinator Vicki Isakson of the Idaho Department of Labor. "Our goal is to make young people aware of the tremendous career opportunities these industries offer."
The career day was developed by the Workforce Development Task Force of Kootenai County, which includes many of the participating businesses that are also financial sponsors.
The Lakeland, Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene school districts have each registered more than 100 students for the career day. Private school and home-schooled students have also registered.
The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds at 4056 N. Government Way in Coeur d'Alene. It will offer four three-hour blocks during which the students will receive a safety briefing and then get their chances to operate one of any number of pieces of heavy equipment and tackle one of the crafts or trades before wrapping up with hotdogs while they visit information booths.
The list of business participants includes Haskins Steel Co., Kimball Office, ACI Northwest, Kootenai Electric, RDI Heating and Cooling, the Spokane Home Builders Association, Stock Building Supply, Overhead Door Co., High Tech Heating & Cooling, EW & NI Cement Masons, Bayshore Systems, Ironworkers apprenticeship program, the North Idaho Building Contractors Association, Interstate Concrete, Ground Force, Buck Knives, Century Publishing, Habitat for Humanity, Holehan Electric, Command Labor, Contractors Northwest, CDA Power Tools/Makita, The Haskins Co., Moss Adams, Simplex Grannel, Champion Pumping, Tradesman International, Dan Lyson Concrete, Altek Manufacturing, Associated General Contractors, All Wall, the Laborers Union, Avista Corp., Eclipse Traffic Control and Spokane Rock Products.
Costco, Sysco, Panhandle State Bank and Super One Foods are donating the food.