The Columbus Urban League and the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services are launching the Franklin County Trades Academy, a workforce training initiative designed to connect Franklin County residents to careers in the skilled trades.

“Trades like bricklaying, roofing and ironworking are in need of skilled workers, but many people just haven’t been able to get the training they need to get these jobs.” according to the county.

“The Franklin County Trades Academy supports our mission to help residents not only meet their basic needs, but also prosper and grow,” said Franklin County Board President, Commissioner Erica C. Crawley.

“This is about more than job training. It’s about creating economic opportunity. We’re not just helping people survive; we’re investing in their ability to thrive. Programs like this open doors to careers, wages, and futures. That’s the kind of bold action our residents deserve.”

In May, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners invested $1.2 million to fund the program to serve at least 85 residents over the next year, preparing and them for high-wage, high-growth jobs.

“What we’re doing is building a pipeline to good-paying jobs from in-demand fields,” Commissioner John O’Grady said.

“Trades like bricklaying, roofing and ironworking are in need of skilled workers, but many people just haven’t been able to get the training they need to get these jobs.”

This Franklin County Trades Academy is a seven-week program that combines hands-on technical training, career development, and key resources to ensure that people interested in pursuing these opportunities can successfully complete training while supporting their families.

Participants will receive training from top industry professionals and instructors at Columbus State Community College.

In addition to technical training, Trades Academy students benefit from career coaching, work readiness education and services such as assistance with transportation and child care.

Program graduates are placed in apprenticeships and jobs where they can earn an average wage of $22 per hour.

The Franklin County Trades Academy will be administered by Columbus Urban League, which has a proven  history of growing wealth by offering connections to high wage careers, teaching wealth building skills and cultivating entrepreneurs and small businesses.

“The Franklin County Trades Academy pairs thoughtful innovation with real world experience,” Columbus Urban League President and CEO Stephanie Hightower said.

“It fixes leaks in the talent pipeline, grows our economy with new wages and wealth and contributes to our ability to timely build a more robust infrastructure for growth.”

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