Great Lakes Building and Construction Trades Industry Partnership (GLBCT)

The Great Lakes Building and Construction Trades Industry Partnership (GLBCT) is the collective voice of 17 building trades in Erie, Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Warren & Venango counties. Its purpose is to improve communications & access to services for architects, builders & planners, & to serve as a resource for construction worker recruitment & training.

GLBCT Strategies:

• Enhancing public awareness of the number and quality of construction projects undertaken by the Industry Partnership and the resulting impact on community development and economy

• Pursuing workforce development focused on updating skills and certifying workers in the use of new building technologies and systems

• Promoting OSHA-approved safety training programs to reduce worksite injuries and resulting downtime

• Developing Project Labor Agreements between the Industry Partnership and builders to ensure speed-to-market demands and prevents delays and work stoppages resulting from manpower shortages

• Contributing time and labor to volunteer public service projects such as Habitat for Humanity, community blood banks and the construction of handicapped accessible facilities

GLBCT Results:

In addition to its 17 union members, GLBCT is comprised of 34 partners, including 21 employer partners. At the close of the 2009-2010 fiscal year, 330 individuals had received training. Training programs sponsored by GLBCT include LEED certification training for green building requirements.

GLBCT Projects:

• Implemented the blending of development funding with consortium training funding to provide a series of training program, together with one-on-one training 
• Succession planning and Entrepreneurial development through Gannon Small Business Development Center
• Development of strategy for interfacing with secondary and post secondary educational institutions from individual members' singular efforts
• Began relationship with Perseus House Charter School
• Employer partners involvement in curriculum development for new skills center
• Creation of new pipeline for apprentices

If you would like more information or are interested in joining this group, please contact the Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Area at jachamilton@nwpawib.org or by calling 814-333-1286.