BCC’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Building Trades program has opened a new training site located at 3251 Third Avenue in the Bronx. The facility will offer a classroom for 30 students, an office for staff, a room for testing and a full floor for hands-on instruction in carpentry, plumbing and electricity.

Workforce Development was able to secure the space through the Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community College Round 2 funding. All students who complete their training will receive certifications from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).

“We are so excited to be off and running in this new space,” said Maddy Centeno, Director of Workforce Development and Continuing Education. “The site will provide the necessary training for Bronx residents interested in the building trades and make employment possible for more people living in the borough. What’s good for BCC is always good for the broader Bronx community.”

The Third Avenue location is a draw for continuing education students because it is near major attractions like Yankee Stadium, the Mall at 163rd Street and Lincoln Hospital. Students also have access to the subway and bus that will leave them minutes from the site. The site is located approximately three miles from the main BCC campus on University Avenue.

With a scholarship, the registration fee is $40, which covers tuition. The regular tuition fee (without a scholarship) ranges between $1,500 – $1,700; schools elsewhere are charging up to $3,000. All training sessions are 17 to 25 weeks long and are completed during the school semester.

Beyond the building trades, BCC offers low-cost training for jobs in a range of sectors, including Computer Technology, Healthcare, Early Childhood Education, and more. Moving forward, Centeno said the College hopes to be able to offer low-cost training programs in HVAC and building electrification. Additionally, she said the College is continuing its work to ensure that students enrolled in BCC’s Workforce Development understand career pathways available through degree programs and earn credit for work completed either at BCC or another college.