Ironworker union will move 700-person instructor training program to Ann Arbor
The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers is moving its Annual Ironworker Instruction Training Program from California to the Ann Arbor area this summer.
The event will take place July 13-23 and is expected to bring 700 people to the region.
The training will showcase the county's educational facilities, along with generating business at the area's hotels and restaurants, said Mary Kerr, president of the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Several members of Kerr's staff traveled to Washington, D.C. last September to make a presentation to the union to move its training session to facilities at Washtenaw Community College.
After holding the event in California for the past 25 years, the board voted unanimously to support the move. Union president Joseph Hunt cited WCC’s strong technical focus, excellent shop facilities and history of supporting union instructor training programs as some of the reasons for the change.
Washtenaw County has played host to several major labor-related training programs, including the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Instructor Training Program and the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry. Those two events brought 4,000 visitors to the county in 2009, generating an estimated $10 million in economic activity.
“Washtenaw Community College has facilities perfectly suited for hands-on training and expertise working with union instructor training programs in the building trades,” WCC President Larry Whitworth said in a prepared statement.
The move was a joint effort among  WCC, the Visitor’s Bureau, Eastern Michigan University and the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti Hotel at Eagle Crest. EMU will host the event's opening and graduating ceremonies and house some of the attendees in its residence halls, while the Marriott will serve as the headquarters hotel for participants.
The collaboration, Kerr said, is what made Washtenaw County appealing to Ironworkers.
“We think that our entire community works with us to roll out the red carpet and really welcome their attendees, and we definitely have a track record of that,” she said. “We are a labor-friendly town.”
The end of the training will overlap with the start of the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, scheduled for July 21-24.
Comments
Paula Gardner
Wed, Jan 27, 2010 : 7:47 a.m.
Several comments have been removed because they've focused on the original first paragraph of the story, which said the convention was coming to Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor. I've rewritten that paragraph to clarify the original intent of this story: To tell readers that the Ann Arbor area has attracted another national training program. Please feel free to contact me directly with questions about this story. My email is paulagardner@annarbor.com. And Tony Dearing can answer questions or concerns about our comment policy. His email is tonydearing@annarbor.com.
DadR
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 3:25 p.m.
Congratulations to the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for their efforts in taking the initiative to bring this new group of folks to the Ann Arbor Area. Those who are quibbling about the exact locations could note the word "Area" in the name of the Bureau. I think this not only reflects on the talents of the AAACVB staff but should also serve as a reminder that we cannot become complacent about the groups which have come to us in the past. I suspect the California people might have taken the ironworkers for granted and that played a role in their decision to come to Michigan.
MGoBluegrass
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 12:40 p.m.
It was probably easier to sell them on moving there convention to Ann Arbor, than say Ypsilanti.
uawisok
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
Welcome International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers!! Any additional Union support is always welcome, as a footnote they will also be very selective where they spend their money....so all you buisnesses who exploit their workforce will not be seeing their patronage!!
SemperFi
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 9:17 a.m.
It's about bringing money to the region. Ann Arbor is certainly the $ hub, but Ypsilanti has much to offer, too. Union forces bringing it to the area because they've been supported here for so long. It's good to see that the unions are loyal to those that support them.
klovejoyroe-ytownclerk
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 8:50 a.m.
Congratulations to Mary Kerr and all the staff at the Visitors and Convention Bureua, EMU, WCC and yes our very own, Ypsilanti Township Marriott...this is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished for our residents, businesses and community when we all work together. Thank you to all who worked to pull this off!! Great Job!! I love it!!
Cash
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 6:07 a.m.
Great news for our local businesses. Thanks for the information. This part of SE Michigan will be hopping the last two weeks of July!
DaRyan
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 1:15 a.m.
WCC is definitely not in the city of Ann Arbor. I believe the campus is technically in both Superior and Ann Arbor townships.
fisherman
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 11:35 p.m.
I am amazed that most of the comments regarding this story relate to nitpicking about the precise location and/or name of the institutions involved. The point of the story is that 700 people will be coming to the Ann Arbor area for 10 days because of the excellent facilites available here for advanced training and skill developent. The writer is to be commended for bringing this to the attention of us readers and for reminding us that Michigan really does have amenities that attract national attention.
Lokalisierung
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 7:49 p.m.
"I bet all those sheet-metal and pipe fitters want to stay in some fancy downtown hi rise." Right casue hard workin iron men don't take to kindly to new style fanceries of city livin eh moose?
Moose
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 7:03 p.m.
Why don't they use the new downtown Valiant Conference Center? I bet all those sheet-metal and pipe fitters want to stay in some fancy downtown hi rise.
MyOpinion
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 6:48 p.m.
Ahh. Evidence of another conference coming to Ann Arbor. Who said there wasn't demand for conference space? Oh wait. The training will take place at WCC, not in the Ann Arbor conference center. I'm betting we could make the Ann Arbor conference space flexible - it could have include all the bells/whistles that WCC is providing and it could rival whatever is at the UM medical and Business school facilities. Ann Arbor will not be denied.
pseudo
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 6:40 p.m.
you guys drive me nuts. Please explain: Where is Washtenaw Community College located? Are you really local, have you been to WCC - it ain't in Ann Arbor. How 'bout the hotel? That really isn't Ann Arbor at all in any way its the white-side of Ypsilanti Township