SOUTH PORTLAND, ME — Bring Back The Trades (BBTT), a national nonprofit based in New Hampshire, teamed up with Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) to bring the first-ever BBTT Skills Expo to the state. The event drew over 1,500 attendees to the gym floor and nearby parking lot to engage with 70 hands-on trades exhibits.
Presented by F.W. Webb Company, the Skills Expo gave students, teachers, and community members a front-row seat to the trades. Students operated excavators, tested their skills on virtual welding simulators, built birdhouses, and used professional Milwaukee Tool Propress tools to connect copper piping. Industry experts from across the region represented pathways in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, construction, cosmetology, allied health, and more.
Research released by BBTT earlier this year revealed that 25 percent of jobs across seven core trades will be open by 2030, representing a $325 billion national workforce gap.
“People talk about the projected workforce shortage like we can’t do anything about it,” said Steve Turner, CEO and Founder of Bring Back The Trades. “But look at what happened [at the SMCC expo]. We found many local employers ready to step up and invest in the next generation, and over 1,500 students who aren’t looking at the trades as a backup plan. They’re ready to get to work.”
Local and regional businesses rallied behind the event and helped BBTT grant $22,500 in scholarship awards to students. The event drew in students from 33 regional schools, as well as home-schooled students and community members.
“Seeing our campus packed with students and local employers ... showed just how excited the next generation is about opportunities in the skilled trades,” said Dr. Kristen Miller, President of Southern Maine Community College. “We were thrilled to host the Bring Back the Trades Skills Expo here on our South Portland campus. It was an incredible opportunity to help students take steps to build their futures.”
SMCC offers hands-on education and certifications in HVAC, automotive, construction, plumbing, electrical, and more. Local major industry representatives from F.W. Webb, SMCC, Casella Waste, Eastern Propane & Oil, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Lighthouse Credit Union, Milwaukee Tool, and dozens more were on site, offering an opportunity for attendees to network directly with the companies actively seeking to raise awareness about the careers in the trades.
