Eupora Rotary Club members learned about the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation at their Aug. 29 meeting.
North Area Director Lane Bell gave an overview of the nonprofit educational organization, which is guided by a board comprising representatives from 10 trade associations.
MCEF’s mission is to be Mississippi’s top industry-focused association, where students and workers can discover their futures through the promotion of careers, recruitment of capable individuals, and training of quality workforce for the construction and manufacturing industries, all for those it serves and in accordance with its needs.
The foundation’s training partners are the Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi State Board of Contractors, Mississippi Community College Board, Mississippi Department of Corrections, National Center for Construction Education and Research, and Mike Holt Enterprises.
Core Services
Each year, MCEF partners with the state Department of Education to provide education and training to over 5,000 students in the career and technical education programs across Mississippi. MCEF oversees 184 construction and manufacturing programs that take place in the 112 high school CTE centers throughout the state.
Two representatives from the Webster County Career and Technology Center joined Bell at the Rotary meeting: Director Josh Alford and Career Counselor Kelly Powell. The WCCTC does not have a construction manufacturing unit of study. However, Powell said welding is part of the Agricultural Power and Machinery program and the center is able to certify students in that skill.
The foundation also provides training and certifications in all 15 community college workforce programs throughout the state. Each year, over 1,700 post-secondary students earn nationally recognized, portable credentials in their skilled trade.
MCEF is a non-union apprenticeship training sponsor with the U.S. Department of Labor that combines paid, on-the-job training with related instruction.
The foundation provides commercial driver training using a driving simulator for Class B license. Programs can be designed for new driver evaluation, existing driver upgrade and remediation programs.
MCEF and state Board of Contractors award $1,000 scholarships to high school students preparing to pursue a post-secondary degree in a construction or manufacturing-related program.
Bell pointed out that construction offers high pay with great benefits, little to no student debt, in-demand and transferable skills, job satisfaction and security, and opportunities for career advancement.
The foundation is headquartered in Pearl. For more information, visit www.mcef.net.
