First Vermont Employer Signs On
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) has announced the start of a new Fiber Optic Apprenticeship Program in Vermont. The program puts participants to work right away, allowing them to learn on the job and earn a paycheck from the start.
The Fiber Optic Apprenticeship Program is part of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), a Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship program. VCBB is partnering with Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), TIRAP’s national sponsor, to bring the program to Vermont. It’s now officially underway with its first Vermont employer, Sertex Broadband Solutions, signing on to participate.
Sertex provides complete end-to-end services to streamline fiber connectivity, from planning through construction to activation, service delivery, and ongoing operations. Its mission is to create infrastructure that provides exceptional and long-lasting value to its municipal and business customers.
“Sertex is committed to building a highly skilled workforce with local employees who live in the communities we serve,” said Michael Solitro, Sertex CEO. “We are excited to participate with VCBB in this groundbreaking apprenticeship program and continue our work in Vermont, helping CUDs throughout the state reach their goals.”
“We thank Sertex and WIA for their partnership in bringing this apprenticeship program to Vermont. It provides a huge opportunity for Vermonters to get into a new career without any cost to them that will provide a paycheck from day one and many options for career advancement. It also provides a huge opportunity to Vermont employers to attract new talent to get the workers needed to complete the broadband buildout in Vermont and compete for the millions of dollars of federal money that’s coming to the state as part of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program,” said VCBB Executive Director Christine Hallquist.
“It’s a pivotal time for states and the broadband industry as the nation seeks to bridge the digital divide,” said Patrick Halley, President and CEO of WIA, the national sponsor of TIRAP. “We are proud to have Sertex, a leader in broadband fiber deployment in Vermont, join the more than 100 companies already participating in TIRAP. By focusing on building a skilled workforce now through registered apprenticeship, employers like Sertex will be better prepared to support Vermont’s broadband deployment plans and connect more citizens across the Green Mountain State as soon as possible."
VCBB is looking for additional employers to register to participate in the Fiber Optic Apprenticeship Program. If you are an interested employer or someone looking for a job in broadband, email [email protected] for more information.
Source: 9.17.2024. Montpelier, Vermont – Vermont Community Broadband Board
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