San Diego Opens Iron Workers Training Center

California Field Ironworkers Training Trust leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new $5.5 million apprenticeship training center in San Diego on October 27.

The Training Trust, also known as the “University of Iron,” is the training and apprenticeship program for Iron Workers Local 229 (San Diego) and has other training centers located throughout California and Nevada.

Elected officials, contractors and Iron Workers representatives attended the ceremony, which marked the completion of the University of Iron’s 10,000 square-foot facility on Beech Street.

The new training center boosts the University of Iron’s apprenticeship program, adding 26 welding booths and three large classrooms.

“People want to be able to provide for their loved ones,” said Don Zampa, Iron Workers District Council of the State of California and Vicinity President. “We offer a real opportunity for hardworking people to do that. This investment in the training center shows we really believe in that mission and what we’re doing over here.”

The University of Iron and the Iron Workers District Council of the State of California and Vicinity represent 3,000 apprentices and 19,500 journeymen ironworkers in California, Arizona and Nevada.