Erie, PA — Legislation in Harrisburg brings tangible good to Erie County. Senator Dan Laughlin was one of the sponsors of The Whole Home Repairs Act. The Whole Home Repairs Act originally introduced in March of 2022, is intended to help homeowners across Pennsylvania make necessary repairs they can't afford, both to houses they live in and ones they rent out to tenants. These repairs range from relatively minor fixes – weatherization, patching a leaky roof – to major renovations that could keep aging homes inhabitable. The legislation was approved and now, through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development and the County of Erie, Erie County Community College (EC3) became the training partner and established a Construction Trades program.
Throughout July and into early August, over 15 students participated in the Construction Trades program. "We are grateful to Senator Laughlin for understanding the need for this essential training in Erie County and supporting the legislation that allows us to provide these learning opportunities at EC3," Chris Gray, President of EC3. "Programs like this are how we'll continue to make an impact on the workforce right here in Erie County."
"When first included as part of the budget a few years ago, I know the Whole Home Repairs program would be a huge benefit for Erie. Collaborating on the concept with my colleague Senator Saval to get this introduced and then working my tail off within my Caucus to have it funded in the budget is paying off now that we can see the money coming back to Erie County. The Community College has been a wonderful partner in transforming parts of the City and will only be able to do bigger and better things with this funding and other funding available to help their construction trades program."
The Construction Trades program offered by EC3 aims to equip participants with fundamental skills essential for thriving in the construction sector. Spanning 144 instructional hours, this non-credit course provides a robust foundation in safety, mathematics, tool usage, construction drawings interpretation, rigging, communication, employability, and material handling.
Upon successful completion, attendees will not only enhance their skill sets but also boost their employability within Construction Trades. Moreover, completers will have the opportunity to obtain certifications including, but not limited to, NCCER CORE, OSHA 10, Ladder Safety & Fall Prevention, and Basic First Aid & CPR.
