Maryland Department of Labor Approves Apprenticeship Program Sponsored by The Campaign for Historic Trades

11/28/2023
By Dana Cohen

Giving Tuesday: Saving History is Our Job – With Your Support, it Can Be Theirs Too!

This Giving Tuesday our workforce development program The Campaign for Historic Trades is raising funds to help young adults with cost of living expenses during their 12-26 week terms with the carpentry, woodcrafting, & masonry teams at the Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick, Md.

05/30/2023
By Dana Cohen

Celebrating The Value of Historic Preservation with Senator Van Hollen, Congressman Trone

In honor of National Preservation Month Preservation Maryland hosted elected officials, members of the preservation community, and stakeholders today in Frederick to recognize the passage of The Frederick Jobs and Historic Preservation Training Center Land Acquisition Act.

L-R: Preservation Maryland’s President & CEO Nicholas Redding, HPTC’s Superintendent Moss Rudley, HPTC’s Deputy Superintendent Brandon Gordon, Frederick County Council President Brad Young, Congressman David Trone, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, and Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor tour HPTC.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman David Trone (D-Md.), Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor, and Frederick County Council President Brad Young joined Preservation Maryland’s President & CEO Nicholas Redding and National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center’s (HPTC) Superintendent Moss Rudley for the event, which included a guided tour of HPTC’s current facility and a formal program at Frederick’s Visitor’s Center.

L-R: Redding, Mayor O’Connor, Congressman Trone, Gordon, Senator Van Hollen.

Sponsored by Senators Cardin and Van Hollen and by Congressman Trone in the House of Representatives, the legislation gives the National Park Service congressional authority to build out a larger, fully functioning center for historic trades training; the new center will allow for the needed expansion, as the current demand for qualified individuals far outweighs those that have been trained. Preservation Maryland and NPS’ Historic Preservation Training Center, located in downtown Frederick, run the national workforce development program The Campaign for Historic Trades which works to expand and strengthen training and career opportunities in historic trades.

Attendees were able to see HPTC staff and trainees at work and learn more about the type of training and hands-on work that will expand as a result of the legislation and subsequent future increased footprint of a new training center.

Both Redding and Rudley spoke to the value of historic trades training, the impact Maryland has on the national preservation movement, and what Redding called “Team Maryland” – the collection of elected officials and partners that helped get the legislation across the finish line – were able to accomplish together. “This legislation isn’t just about buying land – it’s about investing in our communities and building a workforce equal to the opportunity before us,” added Redding.

Senator Van Hollen, Rep. Trone, County Executive Fitzwater and Mayor O’Connor also delivered remarks and presented proclamations in honor of Preservation Month before the program concluded.

Learn more about The Campaign for Historic Trades

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04/12/2023
By Dana Cohen

The Campaign for Historic Trades Creates Customized Training Program

The Campaign for Historic Trades partnered with Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) to create a customized training program focused on providing participants with an introduction to the preservation trades. The 12-week program is comprised of 60 contact hours of instruction including lectures, in-class activities, demonstrations, site visits, and shop tours. The first cohort have completed the training program and the second cohort begins training with NRF April 11, 2023.

Maryland Department of Labor Approves Apprenticeship Program Sponsored by The Campaign for Historic Trades

11/14/2023
By Dana Cohen

Groundbreaking decision provides cohesive framework to enter careers in historic trades

BALTIMORE (November 14, 2023) – The Campaign for Historic Trades, a national workforce development program, powered by Preservation Maryland, that is focused on expanding and strengthening careers in the historic trades, today announced the Maryland Department of Labor approved its first-of-its-kind group apprenticeship program for state registration. The program sets standards – including on-the-job learning, related instruction, and core competencies – that provide a clear process for entering the workforce in roles like deconstruction technician, historic window technician, and preservation carpenter.

“We are thrilled to announce this major step forward in organizing and legitimizing career pathways into historic trades careers,” said Natalie Henshaw, Director of The Campaign for Historic Trades. “Registered Apprenticeship Programs are industry-vetted, approved, and validated by the Department of Labor, akin to how the Department of Education accredits degree plans. For decades, our industry has been working towards this moment. I’m thankful for all the people that have built preservation training and education programs that we were able to coalesce into an official process. The goal of this program is to ensure historic structures are restored respectfully by trained hands and to create a direct plan for those entering the historic trades workforce. Simply put, without trained hands, preservation is just good intentions.”

President & CEO Nicholas Redding with Director of The Campaign for Historic Trades Natalie Henshaw

Registered Apprenticeship is a proven and industry-driven training model acknowledged by the U.S. government that provides a critical talent pipeline to help address some of our nation’s pressing workforce challenges. Employers are able to develop and prepare their future workforce while apprentices obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a nationally recognized credential.

In addition to the new apprenticeship program, The Campaign for Historic Trades is launching an online learning platform to support necessary educational components of Registered Apprenticeships; the functionality of this system will allow training for apprentices as well as interested historic homeowners, aligned professionals (realtors, building inspectors, etc.), and students.

If you are an employer who wants to hire apprentices or an individual who wants to become an apprentice, visit www.historictrades.org or email info@historictrades.org

The Campaign for Historic Trades is a national program of Preservation Maryland, dedicated to expanding and strengthening careers in the historic trades. Guided by a staff with extensive experience in both trades and education, The Campaign is working to address the systemic barriers to historic preservation trades training and to grow the trades workforce. Learn more at historictrades.org

Preservation Maryland is a statewide non-profit harnessing the power of historic places by revitalizing and reinvesting in communities, advocating, and building the historic trades workforce for the benefit of all Marylanders. Learn more at presmd.org

Dana Cohen · Director of Communications

As an award-winning communications professional who creates and manages strategic campaigns, Dana works with our team and partners to tell the stories about our important preservation work and highlight what makes Maryland’s historic buildings, communities, and landscapes special.

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