Building A Workforce, Helping Change Lives

Tony Bartolo
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 12:00 AM
OneSource

Cleveland State Community College is celebrating 12 brand new graduates from the Basic Mig Welding program this month. These 12 new alums are part of “The Refuge,” a charitable non-profit group in Cleveland, Tennessee which offers assistance and access to opportunities and education in their community.

Cleveland State has partnered with The Refuge for five years to help build skills sets within people from the Bradley County/Cleveland, Tennessee area. “It’s a place that gives people a second chance by investing in them,” said Andrew Lindberg, Cleveland State Director of Workforce Development. “The welding program can quickly give people skills and a job that will quickly turn their circumstances around.”

The program offers 40 hours of total training to those enrolled. It includes three hours of industry math training, seven additional hours of classroom training, and 30 hours of hands-on and safety training in the Cleveland State Welding labs. Once the training is complete, the students are tested by Norfolk Southern. If they successfully complete the testing, they are then nationally recognized by the American Welding Society for their expertise.