A partnership between General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Southern Maine Community College has resulted in hundreds of graduates now working at the shipyard.
That success has led the Maine Community College System to expand its manufacturing technician training program from Southern Maine Community College’s Brunswick campus to Central Maine Community College in Auburn.
“This free training program has proven itself to be extremely effective at giving people the foundational skills they need to take on challenging and rewarding careers in shipbuilding,” said Tom Stevens, BIW’s director of training. “It’s great to see it expand to another part of the state so people in central Maine can more easily access this opportunity.”
The program is one of a slew of training initiatives BIW has underway, including a longstanding four-year apprenticeship program and more recent efforts such as as partnership with Jobs for Maine Graduates, a professional development program, a summer internship program, an internship program that connects transitioning service members to training opportunities, the BIW Training Academy at Brunswick Landing an a BIW Training Trailer program started in 2023. to support hiring, training and other BIW programs.
Guaranteed interviews
The partnership with the Maine Community College System and Maine Quality Centers targets specific jobs such as welding, manufacturing and marine design and has resulted in a 93% retention rate.
Graduates of the free, three-week course, established eight years ago, are guaranteed an interview with BIW. Many go on to careers at the shipyard or other manufacturing companies. BIW pays a $500 per week stipend, receivable after graduation, to help offset living expenses while students attend classes full-time.
The 100th class at SMCC launches this month. CMCC began offering the class earlier this year and has graduated 29 so far, with 22 receiving job offers.
Joshua Grant, a 2024 graduate of Edward Little High School in Auburn, had been working in a grocery store before he enrolled in the CMCC class.
“I think it’s a great step to see if you want to apply yourself in the trades,” said Grant, who now works as a pipefitter on the future USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132) that’s now under construction at BIW. “So far I’m loving it. I’m still brand-new, but I’m learning more and more.”
The class covers shop and workplace safety, technical math and measurement, blueprint reading, hand and power tools, material handling, plasma cutting, tack welding, drilling and fabrication, resume building and interview skills.