MEDIA, PA — Delaware County Community College will expand tuition-free skilled-trades training for Chester residents through a $35,000 grant from Endless Pools, adding construction projects and industry certifications intended to improve access to jobs in building maintenance, manufacturing and related fields.
The funding will support the college’s Chester Trades Education Project, a two-year workforce development program established in 2021 to provide postsecondary education and technical training to residents of the city of Chester.
The grant from Endless Pools, a local business unit of Masco Corporation, will finance additional hands-on construction training and new certification opportunities at the program’s Chester City location, according to the college.
A central component is the construction of a 12-by-14-foot structure that students will build under supervision, applying skills in floor framing, wall construction, window and door installation, roofing, siding and finishing.
The project will allow participants to work through multiple stages of construction while developing technical competencies, workplace safety practices and teamwork. The completed structure will also serve as a training resource for subsequent classes.
The funding will additionally support forklift operator training with Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification, along with CPR, first aid and flagger training.
Those credentials are intended to prepare participants for employment in construction, logistics, transportation and manufacturing, while providing additional qualifications for workers already employed in those industries.
“This initiative creates opportunities within the City of Chester, equipping students with skills that pave the way for sustainable careers with family-supporting incomes,” said Karen Kozachyn, the college’s vice president of Workforce and Economic Development.
The Chester Trades Education Project offers a tuition-free curriculum in building and facility maintenance, covering technical skills, blueprint reading, workplace safety and introductory instruction in carpentry, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and electrical systems.
Classes meet twice weekly, and participants can pursue industry certifications and associate degrees through the program.
The initiative is a collaboration among Delaware County Community College, Riverside Futures Community Development Corporation, the Chester Housing Authority, Kelleher Connect and the Rotary clubs of Chester and Swarthmore.
The partnership is designed to address educational and financial barriers that can prevent Chester residents from pursuing postsecondary credentials and entering skilled occupations.
Delaware County Community College President Marta Yera Cronin indicated that the contribution would help sustain and expand the program’s training capacity.
“This grant will allow us to continue to grow our efforts to serve residents of Chester with this very important and life-changing program,” Cronin stated.
The additional training represents an expansion of the program’s existing building-maintenance curriculum, giving participants opportunities to earn credentials and demonstrate practical skills applicable across multiple industries.
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