Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is expanding its welding lab and offering full scholarships to students, thanks to a Maryland Works for Wind grant awarded by the Maryland Department of Labor earlier this year. The initiative aims to meet growing workforce demands in the energy sector and offers students a fast-track pathway to jobs averaging around $55,000 annually.
The grant funding will expand the welding lab at AACC’s Clauson Center for Innovation and Skilled Trades by 50%, significantly increasing the program’s capacity. In collaboration with Earlbeck Gases & Technologies and the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation, the program supports the state’s broader goal of strengthening its skilled labor force.
“Our grant award is helping us to make training available to a wider audience of community members who may never have considered a career in the skilled trades before,” said Dana Marron, assistant dean of the School of Workforce Development and Continuing Education. “The already high demand for welding, fabrication and blueprint reading skills in our region will only increase with the Key Bridge Rebuild Project and Maryland’s offshore wind projects on the horizon.”
The first cohort of seven welding students began training in March. Among them was Indie Fairchild from Glen Burnie, who left a position in restaurant management to pursue new career opportunities.
“The scholarship for this alone is just huge. I would not have been here otherwise,” Fairchild said. “I wanted to advance my career. I kind of hit a stopping block. Times are tough too in the economy, so I really needed new opportunities.”
Students specialize in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), often called stick welding, and are supported by AACC’s employment partners and career services. Opportunities range from industrial welding to underwater welding positions.
“Strum Contracting is committed to a productive partnership with Anne Arundel Community College to advance and expand a skilled workforce in support of the offshore wind industry while bringing good jobs to communities impacted by offshore wind development, especially traditionally underserved communities,” said Teaera Strum, chief executive officer of Strum Contracting Company.
The welding training program can be completed in five weeks during the day or 15 weeks in the evening. Free virtual information sessions are held weekly. Additional cohorts are scheduled to begin in May, July, August, September, and November.
For more information about the program and how to enroll, visit Anne Arundel Community College’s website.
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