Local students explore trades jobs

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- An event Tuesday evening connected local students looking to build a future in the trades, with employers.

The Boys and Girls Club, Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Howard Park came together to put on the 1st Trades Day Open House, laying blueprints for the futures.

The open house showcased futures in the trades to show local students there are multiple ways to build success that don’t always involve a four-year degree.

With a record-breaking number of construction jobs coming to Michiana the need for skilled workers is growing faster than ever.

"So it's not saying no to college it's saying it opens up multiple options and different ways to get there,” said Kate Lee the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director of Education & Workforce.

Seventeen vendors came out to discuss career paths that are both relied on and reliable.“We're always gonna electricians we're always gonna plumber. We always put the roof on our house so there's a real stability in these jobs,” added Lee.

And can even lay the foundation for a bright future in Entrepreneurship.

“So if you go, and you learn how to be an amazing plumber and you work for a company for a time you have a real opportunity with that skill to start your own business,” Lee explained.

"My biggest hope is for the teens to know that we care about them to that there's options for them after high school and that now that they have these connections, you know they could leave here today with information with somebody new in the community though able to maybe help them in the future,” said Katie Rodriguez the Workforce Development Coordinator with the Boys and Girls Club.

Another Open House will be held on March 7th at the University of Notre Dame.

Anyone looking for more information for how to get involved should visit the Boys and Girls Club for more information.