On Thursday, September 2, Mayor Lester Miller paid a visit to the first-ever Construction Ready class in Macon-Bibb. Construction Ready is a free training program by the Construction Education of Georgia, for people wanting to learn construction skills that will lead to a great paying job.
The program was first started in 2014, but it just began in Macon this week with the 93rd class in the state. A dozen people signed up for the first training at The Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors of Georgia, and Mayor Miller wanted to see how they were doing and give them some motivational words as they start this new transition.
“I’m very encouraged about the numbers we have here today. You all are our future and will one day be the shoulders others stand on,” Mayor Miller told the class. “Construction is a very different engine, a very good, reliable engine. There are very good jobs available right now for people who want to earn a good income. You’re taking the right step right now.”
Construction Ready takes Georgians through a free 20-day construction education program that ends with training, credentialing, and job placement. The classes are for anyone over 18 years old. Our first Macon class includes people of all ages and backgrounds. One of the students is former math teacher, 55-year-old Keshel Coates who is in the middle of transitioning careers.
“I’m so thankful this program came here because I’ve always wanted to get into construction in some way, volunteering with different organizations to help rebuild blighted houses, and I think Construction Ready is that program for me,” said Coates.
The training includes lessons in the classroom and outside of it in real-life situations they may one day deal have in construction.
“I get calls and emails almost daily from companies in the Macon area who want to be a part of this and want to hire people from this program. These companies need workers, and we’re getting these students trained and ready to start almost immediately,” said CEFGA Career Coach and Retention Specialist Alexis Muir.
If you’re interested in the free training, click here.