"Solution for a New ERA"

Project Upgrade is the first of its kind in the nation to prepare minority and female journey-level workers exclusively for supervisory opportunities in the construction industry. The program was developed in 1994 for the state of Illinois. Moreover, it has received overwhelming support from labor, management, government and business leaders. The training provided by Project Upgrade allows the participants an opportunity to upgrade and enhance their trade expertise by learning a variety of skills from the basics of communicating, problem solving and blue print reading to an overall view of construction supervision and management. Contractor representatives, union administrators, and business leaders are the instructors and motivational speakers who facilitate the class sessions.

Project Upgrade is governed by the Chicago N.P. Construction Committee, Inc. Participating members are some of Chicago's most prominent construction industry leaders. Chair duties are shared by Tom Villanova, president, Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council; William E. Dugan, president and business manger, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150; and Daniel J. Walsh, president, Walsh Construction Company of Illinois. Advisory Board members include major construction contractors and industry associates; Pentad, Inc., Black Contractors United, F. H. Paschen/S. N. Nielsen, Kenny Construction, Pepper Construction, McHugh Construction, G.M. Harston, Riteway Huggins Construction Services, Inc., University of Chicago Facilities Services and the Electrical Contractors Association. Participating union representatives include; the Chicago Regional District Council of Carpenters, the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers, Local 130, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 134, the Architectural and Ornamental Ironworkers, Local 63, the Structural Ironworkers, Local 1, and the Sheet Metal Workers, Local 73. The newest members of the team are the United States Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Illinois Institute of Technology.