One of the owners of Action Electric says he can’t train electricians fast enough.
Max Griffin says he currently has 15 apprentices. He says under the proposal unveiled this week by Governor Steve Bullock he would love to add up to 10 more. He says it would help meet the demand.
“Right now if you need an electrician, a journeyman electrician, try to hire one. It’s impossible,” he says. “There’s that big of a demand, that big of a shortage out there.”
The Billings-based business has an apprenticeship program with scholarships that pay 100% of the cost.
Griffin credits the Bullock administration for changes in the apprenticeship program that have allowed him to have the 15 in his program now.
Bullock says employers across Montana say their biggest challenge is finding a quality workforce. That’s why he wants to give a $1,000 tax credit for up to 5 years for every employee hired and provided on-the-job training. The amount is $2,000 if that employee is a veteran.
Bullock says employers outside of the traditional trades are eligible.
He says there are over 1,000 different careers that could have an apprenticeship. “That’s everything from I-T technicians, to butchers, to electricians, to phlebotomists, to certified nursing assistants,” he says.
Bullock says already about 700 business sponsor, both union and non-union, are taking part in the apprenticeship program.
He says this new incentive would give employers the high skilled workers they want while helping workers get higher wages.
Josh Pete is an apprentice with WeldTech, a construction contractor. He says the program “has given me an opportunity to obtain a career, not just a job.”
Bullock also wants to help businesses move to Montana or expand their current operations by waiving 75% of the business equipment tax for the first 5 years.
Bullock rolled out his proposal in advance of the 2017 Montana Legislature in Great Falls, Bozeman, and Billings this week.
Bullock faces Bozeman businessman Greg Gianforte on the November general election ballot. Gianforte, in a press release, dismissed Bullock’s proposals saying he had 4 years to create tax incentives and failed.
