While attending the Northeast Ohio Carpenters Apprenticeship Contest in April 2018, the Cleveland Job Corps Center forged a new partnership with Great Lakes Construction Company. Founded in 1948, Great Lakes Construction Company is one of Cleveland’s premier civil construction companies, with more than $120 million in sales (https://greatlakesway.com/history-construction-company/). Great Lakes Construction is responsible for constructing bridges and roadways throughout Ohio and the surrounding states. Jim Fox, Vice president of Operations of Great Lakes Construction, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cleveland Job Corps to solidify a long-term relationship that would offer placement opportunities to the carpentry students and monthly site visits to current students.

Cleveland Job Corps Carpentry students had their first tour of the facility on June 4, 2018. Students were exposed to real-world worksite conditions while being able to see the progress of the project and how contractors perform the work. This also allows Great Lakes Construction to build a potential labor pool and watch the progress of the students at the same time. The students were not only able to see the Carpentry tradesmen, but other construction trades as well. This will give students valuable career exploration experience.