LLCC has been awarded a $200,000 Trade Schools Grant to encourage young adults to enter a construction career.

LLCC will partner with Sangamon Menard Regional Office of Education 51 to expand the current Multi-craft Core Curriculum (MC3) high school program.

Under the expanded program this fall, high school students will attend LLCC for two hours each weekday to explore construction apprenticeships and network with commercial contractors, trade unions and industry leaders. The program includes hands-on labs and field trips to work sites. Students will work on a construction project throughout the school year and during the last quarter of the program, spend three days a week in a paid internship at a job site.

Participating students will receive free tools, work boots and personal protective equipment. They will earn college credit from LLCC as well as certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research and be trained in OSHA 10 construction safety, CPR, forklift and aerial lift.

“We’re excited to partner with LLCC and the construction trades unions in central Illinois to expand the MC3 program,” said Shannon Fehrholz, regional superintendent, Sangamon Menard Regional Office of Education 51. “This program offers a unique blend of academic rigor and practical training, enabling students to gain a competitive edge while still in high school. By partnering with local businesses and industry experts, the program provides our students with unparalleled opportunities to engage in meaningful internships, apprenticeships and hands-on projects that align with their career aspirations.”

Currently 11 high schools are participating: Auburn, New Berlin, Pleasant Plains, Williamsville, Riverton, Pawnee, Chatham, Sangamon County Learning Academy (SCLA), Tri-City, Rochester and North Mac.

“I believe this expansion will greatly contribute to attracting much-needed new talent to our industry and equip them for real-work construction experiences,” said Mike O’Shea, president of O’Shea Builders. “Additionally, the inclusion of a full-year curriculum on trade apprenticeships and construction management, followed by an eight-week paid internship, showcase the program’s comprehensive approach to preparing students for successful careers in the field.”

The following businesses and organizations are participating: Pipefitters Local 137, Brick Layers Local 8 of Illinois, Carpenters Local 270, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W.) Local 193, I.B.E.W. 51 (outdoor wiremen, linemen), Iron Workers Local 46, Operating Engineers Local 965, Sheet Metal Workers Local 218, Roofers Local 112, Painters District Council 58 Local 90, Laborers’ Local 477, Teamsters Local 916, Glaziers Local 1168, OPCMIA Local 18, O’Shea Builders, Mid-Illinois Companies, E.L. Pruitt Co., Henson Robinson Company, Selvaggio Steel, Otto Baum Company, B&B Electric, Senergy Electric and United Contractors Midwest (UCM).

LLCC was awarded the Trades Schools Grant by the Illinois Community College Board.

More information is available by contacting Chris Edmonds, director of the LLCC construction trades program, at christopher.edmonds@llcc.edu or 217-786-4921.