Construction Connect UP
The Upper Peninsula Construction Council, in collaboration with UP Michigan Works and local education agencies, has developed a skill-based, earn-and-learn program that is designed to serve as an effective transition from school to career.
The Construction Connect UP Program is labor and industry approved and directly linked to explicit real-world workplace situations. The program runs during the school year from September through April.
The deadline to register for the following school year is in early April. We will begin taking applications Feb. 1. Eligibility criteria are:
- Must be a high school senior at least 17 years of age
- Must be enrolled in a certified CTE Program
- Must live within a 15 minute drive of Marquette, Escanaba, Sault Ste. Marie, Houghton, or Iron Mountain
- Must have driver’s license or in process and reliable transportation
- Student will be assigned to a signatory contractor on a construction site Monday-Friday 2-3 hours during the school day based on student schedule
- Must pass a drug screen
- EARN ($13.00/Hr) and LEARN PROGRAM
UPCC Building Trades Summer Camp
UPCC’s Building Trades Summer Camp gives high school students a six-week introduction to construction activities. Students are paid $12 an hour for the duration of the camp, mirroring the earn-while-you-learn structure of union apprenticeships.
Building Trades Summer Camp rotates locations each year around the Upper Peninsula. In 2025, it will be located in Gladstone/Escanaba and will run from July 7 - Aug. 14.
Every student who applies participates in resume writing and interview skills workshops provided by Michigan Works. After the workshops are completed, applicants are interviewed and the finalists are selected. Once hired, students participate in a financial literacy workshop. Students also must participate in a safety workshop with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration before stepping onto the construction site.
Trades participating in the Summer Camp include International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 7; Operating Engineers Local 324; Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2; UA Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVAC Local 111; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 906; Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 7; Ironworkers Local 8; Boilermakers Local 169; Laborers' Union Local 499; and Carpenters and Millwrights Local 1510.
Eligibility criteria are:
- Must be 14-17 years of age
- Must be an incoming high school freshman-senior
- Must live within a 45 minute drive of summer camp location
- Must have reliable transportation
- Registration open from April 1st to April 30th. Stay tuned for link!
- EARN ($12.00/HR) and LEARN PROGRAM
