Ryan lauds new training center

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The center will provide training in such areas as solar and wind power.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

CHAMPION — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan praised the partnership involving management, labor and a local university that is resulting in a $2 million training facility for electricians opening early next year.

Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, said the structure on Research Parkway near the Kent State University Trumbull Campus, which replaces a 7,100-square-foot facility on Parkman Road in Warren, is a "good illustration of what we're trying to do" to improve opportunities for Mahoning Valley workers to compete in the global marketplace.

"We're laying the groundwork for some exciting things to come," Ryan said at a press conference today at the KSUTC Technology Building.

The 18,100-square foot building will provide the space and technology to give apprentice and journeymen electricians the most up-to-date training available. The other tenant on Research Parkway is the Delphi research facility, which is across the street.

"What management and the union will be doing is sophisticated training to compete with the world," Ryan said.

Eric Davis, the training director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said the facility will provide better access to training in solar power, wind power and telecommunications, safety, and instrumentation, especially for the experienced journeymen electricians.

"It's getting harder to get them all the training they need," Davis said of electricians, noting that when he got into the business 19 years ago, telecommunications was not even part of the field. "This will allow us to employ the new technology."

Bob Lidle, executive vice president of the Mahoning Valley chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, explained that the union and association raised $500,000 of the facility's cost ahead of time by setting aside 90 cents per hour each electrician works.

The association and union also have planned the facility through the Warren Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Trust, which is borrowing the remaining money from local banks and will pay it back with future training fund money.

Lidle acknowledged that area construction is down, but said it is important that the industry remain prepared for the next wave of construction. It takes three years to complete a residential apprenticeship and five years for a commercial one.

Journeyman electricians make $28.80 an hour with apprentices making between 35 and 90 percent of that, said Mark Catello, business manager for the electrical workers union. Such jobs are not easy to get, Lidle said, with 15 to 20 people applying for every apprentice accepted.

The current number of apprentices is 40, with additional people added to the ranks only when the demand for electricians justifies it, Lidle said.

The union bought the land from Kent State University for $60,000.

Ryan ran down a list of other ideas he believes will help Ohio find the niche markets that will provide jobs and opportunities.

He said opportunities are being created in the Mahoning Valley with investment in the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Chemistry Department at Youngstown State University and Kent State's bioterrorism program.

He likewise touted the possibility of Valley residents getting into the movie industry the way North Carolina has.

"A lot of people want to get out of L.A.," Ryan said, noting that the area should use its contacts with Valley natives such as director Chris Columbus of Champion and actor Ed O'Neill and producer Paula Wagner, both of Youngstown.

runyan@vindy.com

Monday, September 18, 2006