4 Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Carpentry students are resting a little easier – and richer – after working on a short-term Work Based Learning site that paid roughly $18.00/hour.

The students were employed through Nevilles Electric Service to help demo and rebuild the Madison Square Apartments located about 3 blocks from the center on Hall Street.  Due to Michigan’s Prevailing Wage law, each Carpentry student was paid roughly $18.00/hour and worked 40 hours/week for 5 weeks this summer.  After taxes, each student earned  roughly $3000 of wages on the project.

Michigan’s Prevailing Wage law covers construction workers employed on state financed or sponsored construction projects. Under this act the Wage and Hour Division establishes wage and fringe benefit rates to be paid to construction workers on state projects.  The project at Madison Square Apartments was sponsored and financed by the State of Michigan.

“I thought they had made a mistake” states Carpentry student Roddric Dotson upon opening his first paycheck, “I’d never seen a pay check that big!”

While it was no mistake, the students were asked to save the money to help with their transition costs after they exit the Job Corps program. 

The students selected to participate on the project had all demonstrated expertise in their Carpentry Trade and had the essential employability traits required to be successful on the job.  Nevilles contractors agreed that the working students were outstanding and even more suited for the job than some of their regular employees.

“Job Corps students are skilled and ready to work,” stated Site Superintendent John Brondsema, “you always know that you are getting a quality worker.  They worked harder than some of my own guys and certainly deserved the pay they received.”