Classroom to career in one year: Power and Trades Pathways

In late 2017, HFC and DTE Energy recruited the first cohort of students for its new Power and Trades Pathways program. The purpose of this program is to train the next generation of workers in the energy industry. Within the next 5-10 years, half of the current skilled workforce will be eligible for retirement, leaving a void in these high-paying professions.

This is where the Power and Trades Pathways program comes in. Funded through a grant from the DTE Energy Foundation, it trains graduates for high-demand jobs within the energy industry, including electric operations, gas operations, construction, and engineering technicians.

The program is available to high school graduates ages 17 and older. There are no upper age limits. The first cohort of this program comprised graduates from Cody High School and Randolph High School, both located in Detroit. The majority of the students entered the program after working at DTE last summer in its new Summer Youth Program, which provides hands-on experience in skilled trades. Another cohort of students is scheduled to begin later on in 2018 and is open to all.

This program is a “stackable credential” pre-apprenticeship program focused on teaching the core competencies for skilled trades. Students can obtain single or multiple certifications or degrees, thus “stacking” their credentials if they choose. This allows them to be versatile and pursue what the market demands.

Visit our Power and Trades Pathways website, or contact Rebecca Michalski at rmmichalski@hfcc.edu.