STEP UP TO PAINTING

The Step Up To Painting program includes these primary components:

• Women's Resources Topics - general employment and retention skills
  
• Trades Training Topics - issues related to the trades in general as well as specific skills in both carpentry/construction and painting
  
• Job Shadows - participants work alongside employer partners at commercial and residential job sites for two to four days per participant over the course of the first three weeks of class
  
  Twenty-seven employer/trainer partners participated in the spring 2008 program through in-kind support of teaching, interviewing, networking and providing tools and other job-related resources.

“Step Up to Painting has opened my eyes to doors for employment and myself!” -- 2008 graduate

Working with our partners from the Green Mountain Chapter of the Painting and Decorating Contractor’s (PDCA) of America, Vermont Works for Women developed this six week program to prepare women to enter the painting trade as commercial or residential painters. The curriculum includes hands-on skills for the painting trade, and employment skills and support. Participants are certified in EMP Lead Safety Practices and CPR as part of their training. VWW works with successful graduates of the program as they seek positions with our employer partners.

In the spring 2008 program, participants came together to learn the skills (and the art!) of professional painting. In their introductory days, they learned surface and site preparation, patching, brushing, rolling, painting safety and tool cleaning and maintenance while painting the offices of the VT Children's Trust Foundation. This organization was given a bright "new" office and at the same time, our participants were able to learn from four different painting contractors who donated their time and equipment to instruct. The painters were introduced to spraying, faux finishing, painting windows and doors and were certified in Essential Maintenance Practices when working with or around lead paint. Their final project involved painting a foyer and the biggest conference room at the Visiting Nurse Association. We are proud of the fine work they did and glad to help the VNA at the same time!

“We have tapped into strengths and abilities we didn’t know we possessed. We were all given this amazing opportunity to make our lives better, and we have accepted this challenge with gratitude and a willingness to learn. I am proud of all of us,” - Sarah, program graduate

Please contact Rachel Jolly at 802.655.8900 ext. 106 with questions or for more information. Click here for an application form. Funding available for eligible participants.

Step Up to Painting is funded by the Vermont Department of Labor's Workforce Education and Training Fund, so there is no cost for participants. The program is also funded through in-kind support from our 2008 employer partners: Russ/Wood Decorating Inc., Fletcher Allen Health Care, Finishing Touches Painting, Topcoat Finishes, Inc., Top Dog Painting, LLP, Mack Painting, Senna and Sons Painting, Inc., University of Vermont, James Thurston Painting, P+J Painting of Vermont, Sherwin Williams and Vermont Paint Company.