Nonprofits, adult ed, South Paris contractor partner on welding training

SOUTH PARIS — Western Maine Community Action, located at the CareerCenter in Lewiston, and Oxford Hills/Nezinscot Adult Education are partnering with Bancroft Contracting Corporation to provide a new professional welding program.

The 92-hour program will offer students welding processes used by Bancroft Contracting Corporation and other local employers, including 72-hours of hands-on welding instruction, safety training, 20 hours of math for welders and job-readiness skills training.
Hands-on classes are 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at 29 Phillips Road, South Paris. Classroom instruction is 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, 256 Main St. Orientation is planned for the last week of January, and classes are tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Students will learn how to produce high quality welds and, at the conclusion of the program, be testing on acquired skills.
Preregistration is required and includes a formal adult education student intake and assessment. Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act funding is available through Western Maine Community Action for income eligible candidates.
for more information, contact Oxford Hills/Nezinscot Adult Education, 207-743-8842 or adulted@msad17.org.

PHOTO: Tina Christophersen, director Oxford Hills/Nezinscot Adult Education; Patti Saarinen, Western Maine Community Action project coordinator; Heidi Durgin, Career Pathways/College Transitions coordinator; and Kyle Lamb, Bancroft project manager, have been working to put together a program for those interested in learning welding as a career opportunity. (Monica Millhime photo)