State of Oregon Selects BTI for Funding to Provide Heavy Highway Construction Pre-Apprenticeship

BAKER CITY, OR – Baker Technical Institute (BTI) is pleased to announce the State of Oregon, through the Apprenticeship and Training Division of the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), has awarded a $300,000 grant to BTI for advanced heavy highway construction pre-apprenticeship training. The grant is part of Future Ready Oregon, which is a comprehensive, state-wide investment package that supports the education and training Oregonians need for family-wage careers in specific industry sectors.

BTI plans to provide training for a total of 40 participants from two locations. The first location will be in Baker City, OR and is scheduled to start in June 2023. The second location will be in Prineville, OR and is scheduled to start in August 2023. Participants who are selected through a pre-apprenticeship application process will automatically receive a full scholarship that covers all the costs of the program. The training will focus on building career-ready skills for high-demand careers in the heavy highway construction industry which has, and will continue to, experience a significant shortage of skilled trade workers. This shortage has created a great opportunity for people looking to enter the skilled trades, allowing graduates of this BTI program to enter the market when the demand and pay for skilled workers are at an all-time high.

The pre-apprenticeship program will consist of five intense weeks of hands-on training, with participants working in the classroom, virtual reality labs, and in the field running equipment and training alongside BTI’s experienced instructors. During the comprehensive training program, participants will gain experience, knowledge, and may earn multiple industry certifications. BTI will provide heavy equipment operator certification on several machines utilized in highway construction. Other certifications and training elements include concrete and asphalt training, forklift operation certification, OSHA-10 certification, HAZMAT First Responder certification, first aid / CPR, and traffic control flagger certification. Participants will also gain skills in trenching and shoring safety, land grade basics, construction math, blueprint reading, career readiness, and have the opportunity to spend time on construction sites observing best trades and safety practices.

"This is such a great opportunity for people living in rural Oregon who don’t always have the access or funding for high level training like this ," said Doug Dalton, Baker Technical Institute President. "Investing in the skills of the people who live in our communities that allow them to become employed and not have to leave the region, is what will drive real economic sustainability. Our goal is to provide a technical college experience that makes a difference in the lives of our students, their families, and the communities where they live." The application process for the Baker City location opened March 17th, 2023 and can be completed online. Applications will continue to be accepted until May 15th at which time the review committee will make final selections and contact applicants. The application period for the Prineville location will open in May.

For more information about BTI courses or enroll in this pre-apprenticeship program, call 541-524-2651 to talk to an enrollment specialist or student success coach.