a:25:{s:9:"weblog_id";s:1:"4";s:8:"entry_id";s:0:"";s:6:"sticky";s:0:"";s:14:"allow_comments";s:1:"n";s:16:"allow_trackbacks";s:1:"n";s:10:"entry_date";s:19:"2009-05-02 08:09 AM";s:15:"expiration_date";s:0:"";s:23:"comment_expiration_date";s:0:"";s:8:"category";a:1:{i:0;s:2:"52";}s:9:"author_id";s:1:"2";s:6:"status";s:4:"open";s:14:"trackback_urls";s:0:"";s:18:"versioning_enabled";s:1:"y";s:5:"title";s:41:"I-64 Graduates Apprentices to Journeymen ";s:9:"url_title";s:40:"i_64_graduates_apprentices_to_journeymen";s:6:"submit";s:6:"Submit";s:11:"field_id_26";s:40:"I-64 Graduates Apprentices to Journeymen";s:11:"field_ft_26";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_31";s:0:"";s:11:"field_id_44";s:108:"The I-64 project\'s diversity program recently graduated five trade workers from its apprenticeship program.";s:11:"field_ft_44";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_28";s:28:"I-64, diversity, apprentices";s:11:"field_ft_28";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_29";s:2243:"<p>Missouri Department of Transportation is also celebrating the graduation of several individual craftsmen who have become journeymen on<br /><a href=\"http://www.thenewi64.org\">the I-64 project</a>.&nbsp; To date five individuals working on the I-64 project have worked enough hours and mastered the skills to graduate from apprentice to journeyman in their respective union trades.<br /><br />With the I-64 project, MoDOT has worked with Gateway Constructors and the community to develop pre-apprentice training programs and on-the-job<br />training programs for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to increase the project\'s workforce diversity.&nbsp; The ultimate goal is to help<br />these individuals acquire journeyman status in the trades for a long-term career. <br /><br />Over the last two years, more than 70 on-the-job trainees have worked on I-64 and five of them have achieved journeyman status to date with many more eligible by next year.&nbsp; The total workforce diversity on the I-64 project is exceeding the federal minority goal of 14.7 percent with the I-64 workforce having more than 19 percent minority workers.<br /><br />I-64 Laborer Tressa Bell graduated from the Construction Craft Laborers\' Apprenticeship Program this month.&nbsp; With almost 3,000 hours worked on the I-64 project over the past 16 months, she has reached journey status as a laborer. \"I didn\'t think I could do it.&nbsp; I have worked for almost four years toward this goal and working on I-64 gave me the experience to reach my<br />goal,\" said Tressa Bell.&nbsp; \"Now I know I can accomplish anything.\"<br /><br />Other recent graduates include two carpenters, a cement mason and another laborer.&nbsp; By 2010, it is anticipated that more than a dozen additional<br />workers from I-64 will graduate to journey status.<br /><br />\"The I-64 project with its vast amount of work presented an opportunity for MoDOT to make a difference in the lives of people looking for a chance at a<br />career in construction,\" said Lesley Hoffarth,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I-64 project director.&nbsp; \"We are proud to have helped these individuals achieve their goals and get<br />to journey status in the construction industry.\"</p>";s:10:"category_0";s:2:"52";}