ST. LOUIS - With a number of large building projects on the horizon in 2005, U.S. Congressman William "Lacy" Clay is learning more about career pathways for minorities in the high-tech union electrical contracting industry.

Congressman Clay recently toured the St. Louis Electrical Industry Training Center - recognized as one of the nation's top high-tech learning laboratories for electrical construction and communication craft workers. Clay was briefed on the union electrical industry's outreach programs to help minorities, women and others succeed in the construction's most high-tech field. The center, located at 2300 Hampton Ave., is operated by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local # 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

"In my district, we anticipate redevelopment to begin this year on 600 acres of land east of Lambert St. Louis International Airport," noted Congressman Clay. "This project alone is expected to generate 2,500 construction jobs for years, including a significant number for minority craft workers and contractors. The training center is crucial to supplying skilled electricians and communication workers for metro St. Louis and in helping minorities attain good-paying careers."

The training center has already taught hundreds of minority apprentices and electricians. "While we serve a 24-county area, we work closely with community-based organizations in the city of St. Louis to identify minorities who can build a career as a union electrician," said Dennis Gralike, director of the St. Louis Electrical Industry Training Center. Gralike says he works with St. Louis Public Schools, the Construction Career Academy, charter high school programs and the Lincoln University Outreach and Extension in Jefferson City, Mo.

"Through our outreach programs, the training center is committed to creating a diverse workforce," said Stephen P. Schoemehl, IBEW Local #1 business manager.

IBEW Local #1's Electrical Workers Minority Caucus serves as a support and networking system to help train and provide continuing education for disadvantaged apprentices and journey workers. The group was formed nationally in 1974.

"The program requires high math skills and good reading skills," said Leon Arties, president of IBEW Local #1's minority caucus. "We work continuously to attract more minorities to the training center because there's no other program that offers such a clear path to a high-tech construction career." The 8,000-hour apprenticeship training program requires an aptitude for algebra, geometry, trigonometry and physics, and the ability to read technical drawings.

To prepare for the growing complexity of Information Age installations, the training center underwent a $1 million upgrade in 1999. "Skills for telecommunications technology are in high demand, including structured wiring systems using fiber optics to carry voice, data and video," said Douglas R. Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis Chapter NECA.

The dedication to preparing apprentices and journey workers for all emerging technologies earned the training center honors from St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers (SLCCC) in 1999 when it won the group's prestigious Construction Industry Cost Effectiveness Award.

The St. Louis Electrical Industry Training Center is largest single source for skilled union electricians and communication technicians in the Midwest. In Missouri, it is the only electrical apprenticeship school certified to offer accredited courses for instrumentation and process controls, which are vital to manufacturing; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and plant operations.