COVINGTON, Ky. – If you’re looking to give yourself the gift of a new in-demand skill this holiday season, a good place to start is the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades information session on Thursday.

The free information session takes place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Enzweiler Building Institute’s Covington Campus at 3923 Winston Ave. Attendees will learn about the upcoming 2024 course and workshop schedule, as well as details about introductory weekends, tools and labs, hands-on field work, scholarships, and opportunities to meet new employers.

“The upcoming class is going to be a lot of hands-on experience, which should be a lot of fun,” said Diane McConnell, Director of Workforce Development with the Enzweiler Building Institute, which administers the programs through apprentice-style training.

The Covington Academy of Heritage Trades (CAHT) teaches the skills and knowledge necessary to restore older homes and buildings to their former glory and is a gateway to an industry with a growing demand for skilled professionals.

Classes are taught both in a classroom and at a hands-on “living lab” – the historic building at 1515 Madison Ave. where students work side-by-side with skilled craftspeople who have dedicated their careers to mastering their trade.

“Our upcoming courses have been meticulously designed to empower students with practical skills and knowledge in restoration trades,” said Kaitlin Bryan, the City’s Historic Preservation Specialist. “We are focusing on topics that are needed to restore the living lab as well as get students hours of experience, which will no doubt look attractive to employers.”

The Academy’s prerequisites include an introductory course that covers the various components of historic renovation. The curriculum covers all stages of bringing a historic building back to life and offers options to learn individual components as well. Students can select from courses in mechanicals, plaster, masonry, windows, roofing, and box gutters, as well as structural stabilization and demolition.

Applications for the Spring 2024 session at the Covington location are now being accepted. Classes begin Jan. 8.

***

To register for the Thursday information session or to learn more about CAHT’s Spring 2024 session, visit The Covington Heritage Trades Academy website, or contact Diane McConnell at (859) 640-4294 or Diane@BuildersNKY.com.

# # #