The Hillsborough County Commission has endorsed a plan to design a new training program aimed to give workers the skills they need to apply to construct, maintain and operate critical infrastructure, according to a Hillsborough County news release.
The program is needed to meet the demand for utility workers, as the industrial and technical skills needed for workers in the public works field becomes more specialized, the release says.
Hillsborough’s Economic Development department will work with Hillsborough Community College, Hillsborough County Public Schools, and partners in the private sector to create a pilot rollout of the training program over the coming year, the release adds.
The new program also will have internships, allowing students to receive paid on-the-job training at municipal or other employers that are aligned with the certification program.
There are no existing programs in Hillsborough County offering training for these particular skillsets, according to the release.
The program will teach skills necessary to do work in these fields:
- Geographic Information Systems
- Traffic control concepts and application
- Potable water treatment, systems, and operations
- Wastewater collection, treatment, systems, and components
- Hazardous materials handling, packaging, transportation, and storage
- OSHA safety standards
- Commercial Driver’s License and/or heavy equipment certification
The program is expected to cost about $500,000 in its first year of development.
Published January 05, 2022
