News Summary
Wheeling Park welcomed over 1,000 students for the Project BEST Building Construction Trades Showcase, highlighting career opportunities in construction trades. The event featured hands-on activities and informational displays from various companies, allowing students to explore paths in skilled labor without accruing college debt. With a growing interest in trade careers, the showcase aimed to address the skills gap in the industry, attracting future builders and tradespeople.
Wheeling Hosts Project BEST Building Construction Trades Showcase
More than 1,000 students from across the Ohio Valley attended the annual Project BEST Building Construction Trades Showcase at Wheeling Park on September 18, 2025. With participants from 30 different school districts, this event served as a platform for students to explore career opportunities in the construction trades.
Inside the park’s skating rink, dozens of companies and trade workers set up informational tables. Students not only perused these displays but also engaged in hands-on activities outside. They operated machinery such as cranes and backhoes, learned about finishing concrete, and tried on safety equipment used in mining. This hands-on experience allowed students to connect theoretical knowledge with practical skills, broadening their understanding of the trades.
Future Opportunities in Construction
Project BEST Director Nathan Butts highlighted the importance of the event in attracting new individuals to the trades, especially in light of rising college debt concerns. He emphasized the need for students to become aware of trade opportunities that allow them to begin their careers without accumulating debt. Butts pointed out that apprentices can earn while they learn, training to become full-time journeymen in the trades.
As the demand for skilled labor continues to soar, an estimated 500,000 construction jobs are expected to need filling in the next five to ten years. General starting wages in the union trades range from $18 to $25 per hour, plus benefits, making these career options increasingly appealing to students.
Growing Interest in Trade Careers
Among those present was Connor Darlington, a student from Edison High School, who expressed a strong interest in carpentry. Additionally, students from Bridgeport High School, Thad Cooper and Landrum Robbins, received a lesson on drone usage from American Electric Power meter electrician Timothy Bradley. Such interactions not only stimulated interest in specific trades but also expanded students’ understanding of technological advancements in the construction field.
Educational Impact of the Showcase
The showcase was designed to help students explore various trades and consider future career options. Many walked away with a better understanding of the qualifications needed for different trades, the potential earnings available, and the pathways to achieving their career goals.
The combination of interactive demonstrations and informative sessions signaled a proactive approach toward addressing the skills gap in the construction industry. As the event showcased numerous opportunities, it encouraged students to consider trade careers as viable and lucrative options in a rapidly changing economic landscape.
Wheeling’s Project BEST Building Construction Trades Showcase not only connected students with local businesses but also played a crucial role in shaping the future workforce of the construction industry, fostering a new generation of skilled tradespeople prepared for the challenges ahead.
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Additional Resources
- Times Leader: 1,000 Students Attend Project BEST Building Construction Trades Showcase
- News and Sentinel: College Receives $5 Million for Job Training
- WTOV9: Hands-On Job Fair Introduces High School Students to Union Trade Careers
- Weirton Daily Times: Wheeling YMCA Breaks Ground on Expansion
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Construction Trades
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