Welding Digest

Over the past decade, data from Weld-Ed has shown a steady increase in students enrolling in welding programs nationwide. This trend has placed many legacy trade schools and welding programs in an unfamiliar situation, with demand exceeding available seats due to years of consolidation and scaling back.

In 2017, recognizing the need to expand program capacity, the AWS Foundation (www.aws.org/about/foundation) Board of Trustees established the Welding Workforce Grant to provide funding for schools to expand labs and enhance programs with additional welding booths and new equipment used by local industry.

AWS Vice President and Grants Committee Chair J Jones, the coauthor of this article, recently visited three grant recipients in Connecticut to see firsthand how the Welding Workforce Grant is helping to address the state’s workforce needs.

Meeting the Demand for Skilled Welders in Connecticut

Bristol Technical Education Center (BTEC) (https://bristol.cttech.org) in Bristol, Conn., is a hybrid high school/postsecondary technical school serving 11th- and 12th-grade high school students and adult learners who fill important roles at aerospace, manufacturing, and construction companies in the greater Hartford area. BTEC is unique among other state technical schools with its work-based learning program and opportunities for students to work on real projects for local companies.

Several years ago, BTEC saw a surge in applications, with 80 students competing for only 24 available spots. At the same time, local employers emphasized a growing demand for graduates with gas tungsten arc welding experience. Recognizing both challenges, the school sought ways to expand its program and enhance training opportunities.

In 2024, BTEC was awarded the Welding Workforce Grant to purchase four new multiprocess welding machines and welding tables. Following the implementation of the grant, the school can now accept eight additional students into the welding program while providing enhanced training to meet the specific needs of local employers.

“This grant has enabled us to better serve our students and expand our welding capabilities, which will help us further contribute to industry at a local level,” said Amy Howroyd, welding and metal fabrication department head.

A Statewide Effort to Strengthen the Skilled Workforce

North Grosvenordale, once home to the largest cotton mill in Connecticut, has moved beyond its textile roots. While manufacturing in the town has dwindled, the demand for skilled workers is rising across the state, making Tourtellotte High School’s (https://tmhs.thompsonk12.org) welding and skilled trades programs more important than ever.

Several years ago, a representative from General Dynamics Electric Boat (Electric Boat) in Groton visited the school as part of the U.S. Navy’s effort to modernize the region’s skilled trades programs. He provided recommendations for new booths and welding equipment to better align with current shipbuilding industry standards. The school included the equipment in its grant application and was selected to receive funding for lab expansion in early 2024.

“Tourtellotte High School is located in the northeastern corner of Connecticut with limited access to programs for learning this trade outside of high school,” said Melinda A. Smith, superintendent of Thompson Public Schools. “The support from AWS will allow us to expand the welding program and increase enrollment by adding much-needed equipment.”

With the additional booths and equipment, Tourtellotte High School can now train 20 more students annually. Two recent graduates were hired by Electric Boat, with several more students expected to follow in their footsteps in the coming years.

A Community of Shipbuilders Rises Once Again

Westbrook, Conn., lies in the shadow of Groton and Electric Boat, the primary builder of U.S. Navy submarines for over 100 years. Submarine iconography is prominent throughout the area, serving as a reminder of its historic role in constructing the U.S. Navy’s “Silent Service.”

In recent decades, employment levels at the shipyard declined, mirroring the broader downturn of the defense industrial base. However, in recent years, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Electric Boat, now a subsidiary of General Dynamics, is at the center of the U.S. Navy’s ambitious effort to construct one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines annually. To achieve this, they estimate needing an additional 140,000 skilled workers over the next decade.

In remarks to shipbuilding industry leaders last year, Rear Admiral Jonathan Rucker, who leads the Navy’s Program Executive Office for Attack Submarines, stated, “We have done great things, and we’ve made progress, but more is needed. This is our north star . . . This is the challenge of our time.”

Westbrook High School (https://whs.westbrookctschools.org) is ready to answer the nation’s call while providing students with promising and lucrative career opportunities.

“We are in the midst of a once-in-a-generation opportunity here in southern Connecticut as advanced manufacturing expands, providing a critical pathway for our students interested in pursuing trades — particularly high-demand fields like welding,” said Superintendent Dr. Kristina Martineau. “There is great interest and high need for welding training, and we are incredibly proud to be part of meeting this demand for our students, community, and region.”

In 2023, Westbrook High School was awarded the Welding Workforce Grant to purchase two fully equipped welding stations with modern equipment. Since their installation, instructor Paul Pessoni reports that the program has added 20 additional seats. The school has also joined the Submarine Industrial Base Talent Pipeline Program, which provides students with mentorship opportunities and visits from Electric Boat and local suppliers.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Grant Opportunities

The AWS Foundation’s Welding Workforce Grant has provided critical support to welding programs nationwide, ensuring that schools have the resources needed to train the next generation of skilled welders. However, as the cost of equipment and materials continues to rise, the purchasing power of the original $25,000 grant has diminished. To address this, the AWS Foundation Grants Committee recently voted to increase the grant amount to $50,000, doubling its impact and enabling schools to make even greater investments in their welding programs.

The next round of grant recipients will be announced in May, further strengthening welding education programs across the country and reinforcing the skilled workforce pipeline.

To view a map of past grant recipients and learn more about the Welding Workforce Grant and other funding opportunities, visit here (aws.org/grants).

This article was written by J Jones (vice president and grants committee chair) and John Douglass (Foundation’s associate director) for the American Welding Society.