WHEELING — Matching funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help Ironworkers Local 549 complete a major expansion of its training facilities, and in turn, will help bolster its apprenticeship programs and the region’s skilled-trades workforce.

Local leaders from Wheeling gathered with regional officials from the Tri-State Area Wednesday at the Ironworkers Local 549 training center on Main Street for the announcement of the coming expansion.

“The ironworkers are proud to announce an expansion project at this location,” said Kenny Smigle, business agent for Local 549. “This project is funded in part by a $1.75 million construction grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. It will add 7,840 square feet of additional space for a new, state-of-the-art training facility and larger meeting rooms for members and retirees.”

Funding was secured through ARC’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization initiative, in which federal resources are directed to economic diversification and revitalization projects in Appalachian communities affected by the downtown of the coal industry.

“Ironworkers Local 549 is providing matching funds for the projects, which brings the expansion total to $3.5 million,” Smigle said.

Incorporated in 1937, Ironworkers Local 549 serves 12 counties in West Virginia, six counties in Ohio and two counties in Pennsylvania, covering nearly 9,000 square miles in its jurisdiction.

Union officials thanked a myriad of local and state officials and entities that have assisted with making this upcoming expansion possible.

“We’d like to thank the Appalachian Regional Commission and federal co-chair Gail Manchin, West Virginia ARC Program Manager James Bush and Bel-O-Mar Regional Council — our project administrator — for their support of the expansion project,” said Kevin Coulter, business manager for Local 549. “This is critical to our future as a union in preparing for work on all the upcoming infrastructure projects in the Tri-State Area.”

Officials cited some recently completed projects by the ironworkers union. Projects like the multimillion-dollar Wheeling Suspension Bridge renovation, Cabela’s, FirstEnergy Fort Martin Power Station, J.B. Chambers Performing Arts Center at Wheeling Park High School and the Hannibal Power Plant are among the recent projects that included work by Local 549.

“There’s a lot more, I just can’t name them all,” Coulter said, noting that the upcoming WVU Medicine Regional Cancer Center in Wheeling and many other upcoming projects will involve work by union ironworkers. “I’d like to thank our union members, trustees and our retirees for all of their support. It’s been tremendous. I’d also like to thank all of the contractors that continue to utilize union labor. We look forward to being an important part of the Tri-State Area for many years to come.”

Coulter said construction of the training facility will be an extension of the current building in Center Wheeling at 2350 Main St.

“Hopefully, we’ll get things started during the first quarter of next year,” he said. “It’s approximately going to take a year and half to complete.”

Stephen Simpos, apprenticeship coordinator for Local 549, said the expansion will allow the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee to train up to 90 apprentices per session — 30 per class in the three-year program — increasing the current output of skilled ironworkers in the Tri-State jurisdiction by one-third.

“The additional apprentices will mean more local workers constructing buildings, repairing bridges and contributing fully to their communities in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio,” Simpos said. “We feel all of these upgrades to the training center will be the foundation for our recruiting efforts. Apprenticeship training is essential for developing a highly skilled Ironworkers labor workforce, as it combines hands-on experience with technical instruction to ensure workers are proficient in the latest tools, techniques and safety practices.”

The new facility addition will include a hands-on learning space for welding and safety instruction, a traditional classroom space with partitioned walls to create smaller spaces when necessary, a large gathering space with an elevated stage for larger union meetings and an ADA-compliant elevator and restrooms.

“Last year, the JATC received Congressionally Directed Funds to purchase equipment and support the salaries of instructors and administrative staff,” Simpos said. “Those funds have allowed the Ironworkers to modernize and move toward their goal of increasing the number of apprentices trained in their jurisdiction.”

Unfortunately, the amount of space in the current facility puts the program at capacity, union officials said.

“We’re looking forward to moving forward on this project,” said Smigle, who noted that he participated in the apprenticeship program many years ago, worked his way up the ladder and after 27 years, today serves as the business agent for the Ironworkers Local 549. “You can make a lot of it — that’s what I tell the young people, the younger generation. There’s a lot of stuff to do, but we’re really appreciative of the grant — it’s kind of a one-time-deal to get something like that, and we’re really excited.”

Officials from Wheeling; Josh Jefferson, president and CEO of the Regional Economic Development Partnership; Ohio County Growth and Retention Manager Stephanie Hockenberry; W.Va. state Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio; Workforce Director Mike Schlanz of Ohio Means Jobs of Belmont County; Jennifer Rohrig of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development; and a number of other community leaders were on hand to hear Wednesday’s announcement and to view preliminary plans for the expansion.

For information about becoming a member of Ironworkers Local 549, visit the website at iwlocal549.org or call (304) 232-2660.