In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb visited the Laborers’ Local 310 training center in Cleveland.

Bibb, who began his first term as the 58th Mayor of Cleveland in January, spoke to apprentices outside of Local 310’s training center on Nov. 15, and then listened to their stories on why they became apprentices.

He told the apprentices he grew up a union kid on the city’s southside, as his grandparents were members of the United Auto Workers, and his father was a Cleveland Heights firefighter.

“They had good union jobs, which gave me a shot in life,” he said.

Bibb then called the Apprenticeship Readiness Program Cleveland Builds a vital pipeline to registered building trades apprenticeship programs and reaffirmed the City’s commitment to the program.

“You can count on us [the City of Cleveland] to be good partners going forward to help get apprentices into the trades,” he said.

Laborers’ Local 310 Business Manager Terrence P. Joyce expressed enthusiasm for the Mayor’s visit and the support he offered during his visit.

“The building trades can’t be more excited about the job Mayor Bibb has done,” said Joyce. “He understands that we promise and deliver on giving apprentices a 30- or 35-year career.”

“The mere fact he requested to come here and see their facility shows he understands the important role apprenticeships play as it relates to workforce development,” said Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary Dave Wondolowski.

Wondolowski stressed that apprentices play a vital role in the region’s economic development, as they replace the region’s retiring tradesmen and tradeswomen.

“It is more than critical to have a pipeline of people to do the work,” he added.

National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education and government leaders host events to showcase the successes and value of registered apprenticeship programs advancing racial and gender equity and supporting underserved communities.

Events across the country from Nov. 14-18 are held to highlight how registered apprenticeship, a proven and industry-driven training model, provides a critical talent pipeline that can help to address some of the nation’s pressing workforce challenges.