Partnering for Workforce Development
Last month, the Parkersburg-Marietta Building and Construction Trades Council, in partnership with the City of Parkersburg and the Mid-Ohio Valley Workforce Development Board, held the annual Apprenticeship Readiness Week 2025 in Wood County.
Engaging Local High School Students
During the week-long event, Mid-Ohio Valley high school students participated in a hands-on camp where they explored different trades such as:
- Carpenters
- Laborers
- Pipe Fitters
- Cement Masons
- Electricians
- Roofers
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Operating Engineers
- Millwrights
- Iron Workers
- Bricklayers
- Painters
Giving Students a Path to the Trades
This year, 16 students visited WV Building Trades-affiliated training centers, learning directly from apprenticeship instructors. At the end of the week, some students even declared which craft program they planned to apply for — taking their first step into a rewarding career.
Community Support and Leadership
“Events like these are how we meet the future generation of craftworkers where they are…We plan to have many more of these types of events and hope they will grow in the years to come.”
Buddy Malone, Business Manager for the Parkersburg-Marietta Building and Construction Trades.
Celebrating Apprenticeship Success
At the end of the week, a luncheon honored both the students and the participating WV Building and Construction Trades crafts. Justin Williams, Director of the WV Affiliated Construction Trades (ACT WV), delivered remarks highlighting the importance of programs that connect students with opportunities in the trades
Introducing the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3)
Building on this success, the Parkersburg-Marietta Building and Construction Trades will begin offering the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) program at their Parkersburg headquarters.
Preparing for Future Careers
MC3 is a pre-apprenticeship program approved by NABTU, designed to prepare individuals for careers in organized construction. The first sessions ran from August 4–29, 2025, with more planned in the future. For more information on WV Building and Construction Trades apprenticeship programs, visit WVTrades.org
