A Dallas-based startup is launching an initiative in Memphis as it hopes to alleviate the skilled-worker gap across the country.
UpSmith is accepting applications for an eight-week electrician training program, the company announced in Memphis on April 7.
The startup has teamed up with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of West Tennessee to provide ABC members with a stream of trained workers.
“There is a big challenge in our country right now,” Wyatt Smith, founder and CEO of UpSmith, said at the Memphis press conference. “[There are] over 1.3 million open positions in skilled construction and manufacturing. Our institutions are having a [hard] time keeping pace and being able to create high-dignity, affordable, and rapid pathways for helping people build the skills they need to take on those roles.”
The partnership between ABC of West Tennessee and UpSmith will allow employers to sponsor trainees to cover their tuition and equipment as well as a $300 weekly stipend.
Training will be handled by ForgeNow, a Dallas-based company that specializes in an eight-week electrician and HVAC training.
Bryson Whitney, head of community engagement at UpSmith, said that training would take place in Memphis. The startup is currently looking for a space to host the classes. According to Whitney, the group is working with the City of Memphis to find a class space that can hold 30 to 50 students.
Whitney explained the goal is to keep classes small to allow for a personalized education experience that can place students in a good fit. He said that if the group is unable to find space through the City, it will likely lease out some warehouse space thanks to its new connections in with ABC of West Tennessee.
UpSmith is currently accepting applications on its website for its pilot program, which will take place in June. According to Whitney, the first class will have 30 students and will be used to gauge the success of the program.
If the program is successful in Memphis, Whitney said the company may expand into Texas in the near future, and potentially nationwide.
The startup said that it will be able to place graduates in jobs that pay between $18 to $20 an hour.
“We're very excited about strategies that are put in place and able to uplift our communities,” said Beverly Robertson, CEO of the Memphis Chamber, at the press conference. “In order to be a completely strong economy, we have to make sure that our individuals are skilled and connected to jobs of quality that pay wages where they can support their families.”
