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Western
HVAC News
Newest State-of-the-Art
Apprenticeship Training Center in Fairfield Celebrating its
Grand Opening.
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New location in Van Nuys, California.
The
Bay Area Industry Training Fund is proud to announce the
grand opening of the Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Training
Center in Fairfield. The state-of-the art training center
for sheet metal workers (SMW) recently completed the
development of three additional training labs, increasing
instruction capabilities for service, testing and balancing,
and welding using cutting-edge instructional aids. It
originally opened in 2014 as one of four centers in the Bay
Area to train apprentices in HVAC services and repair, sheet
metal fabrication and installation, architectural, welding,
as well as testing and balancing.
This training center will provide apprentices the
opportunity to gain valuable skills while engaging with
employers, gain practical work experience, refine their
technical skills in HVAC and sheet metal fabrication for the
diverse array of highly skilled occupations available in
California.
“As contractors, our greatest need in the future will be
highly skilled and motivated workforce,” says Paul Irwin,
Owner of Bell Products, Inc. Mechanical Contractors. “The
completion of this training center exemplifies the strong
commitment both labor and management share for maintaining a
capable and committed workforce trained using
state-of-the-art curriculum, tools and equipment now
available at all the Bay Area Sheet Metal Apprenticeship
Training Centers.”
Since 2016, Governor Jerry Brown has been supporting the
job-training model of the California Apprenticeship
Initiative (CAI) by making it a priority as part of the
State’s efforts to add one million more skilled workers to
California’s economy over the next decade.
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“California has the
largest apprenticeship system in the nation,” said Rick Werner,
SMW Local Union No. 104 President. “Union apprenticeships will
continue to play an important role in building a strong
workforce for our state, thanks to continued investment in
people like our new training center.”
According to the California PUC, the work, advancements and
knowledge in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning
(HVAC) industry has been identified as key for energy reduction
goals in California. This training facility is filling the need
for skilled workers who create, manufacture, install, and
maintain energy-efficient HVAC systems.
The number of energy efficiency jobs continues to grow each
year, but employers in the industry have reported that it can be
difficult to find qualified workers for these positions due to
lack of experience, training, or technical skills. It has been
estimated that the economy could add more than a million energy
efficiency jobs by 2030, and up to 2 million of these jobs by
2050, reports the Advanced Energy Economy Institute. The Sheet
Metal Apprenticeship Training Center is providing job
opportunities, economic grown and is in line with the state’s
goals for green energy.
This Apprenticeship Training Center is a world~class training
facility housed in a LEED gold certified building. “We’re
practicing what we preach and keeping up with the latest
technology and trends in the training and curriculum we offer,”
said Rick Werner, SMW Local Union No. 104 President.
About the Sheet Metal Workers' Local 104 and Bay Area Industry
Training Fund
We strive to equip the next generation of Sheet Metal Workers
with a combination of skills and technology from the past,
present, and future that secures a bright outlook for members
and employers alike. Chartered in 1903, Sheet Metal Workers'
Local Union No. 104 remains dedicated to extending the benefits
and solidarity of its trade union to all of those working in
sheet metal throughout Northern California.
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