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(Camden, NJ) – In an inspiring ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, thirty-five Camden residents were honored during a “Draft Day” celebration marking their acceptance into local building trades unions. Selected through an extensive interview process, these individuals represent the inaugural cohort of the Camden/Cooper Trades Gateway Pre-Apprenticeship Program — a transformative workforce development initiative preparing residents for lifelong careers in the skilled trades.

The 12-week training program, launching in early June, combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience. Upon completion, participants will begin work on the first phase of Project Imagine — Cooper University Health Care’s multi-year expansion, which broke ground in January.

Held at Camden County College’s Camden Campus, the event captured the spirit of the NFL Draft. Each participant was called to the stage by trade union, presented with a hard hat representing their union affiliation, and celebrated for their commitment to building a brighter future for the city. Families, union leaders, Cooper representatives, and community officials gathered to show support.

“This program isn’t just about job training — it’s about transforming lives and investing in the future of Camden and its residents,” said George E. Norcross III, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cooper University Health Care, Camden’s largest employer and employer of Camden residents. “These 35 individuals are the foundation of something truly powerful: a pipeline to stable, well-paying careers for city residents right here in our city.”

The Reverend Carl Styles, business manager of LIUNA Local 77 serving Southern New Jersey was pleased to see everyone working together to maximize the community benefits for Camden City residents.  “The City of Camden is experiencing a tremendous boom in economic development and new building construction, and I applaud our elected officials, business, healthcare, and educational leaders, and building trade unions who are partnering to ensure that development projects planned for Camden will be built by men and women living in Camden,” said Styles.

Camden County College continues to play an instrumental role in workforce development and is deeply involved in supporting workers interested in learning an apprenticeship craft.  “We are proud to host the Camden Trades Gateway Draft Day Celebration at our Camden City Campus,” said Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett, President of Camden County College. “The College will be selecting 10 students to participate in our NJ BUILD grant program, this 6-week pre-apprenticeship program, funded through a grant from the NJ Department of Labor, will provide students with an opportunity to pursue an apprenticeship with one of our local building trade unions.”

Among the trades participating in Drafty Day 2025 is the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades through its Finishing Trades Institute.  Training Director James Hyland was effusive in his praise of pre-apprenticeship programs like Progress 360 and NJP2A.

“The Finishing Trades Institute values pre-apprenticeship programs because they help prepare individuals with foundational skills and knowledge needed for success in the trades,” said Hyland. “These programs create a pipeline of qualified, motivated workers who are ready to contribute to the industry. Additionally, they strengthen the community by providing career opportunities and supporting local residents in which that community represents.”

This initiative is the result of a historic partnership between Cooper University Health Care, construction manager Torcon Inc. / P. Agnes Inc., Camden County College, and regional trade unions including the Carpenters, Electricians, Laborers, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, and Iron Workers. Its goal is to create direct pathways to employment while ensuring local residents are central to Camden’s revitalization.

The Trades Gateway program builds upon Cooper’s deep-rooted commitment to Camden, where the health system employs more than 940 residents and supports additional training efforts like the Cooper Health Careers Initiative. This latest endeavor is a significant step forward in empowering the local workforce and shaping the city’s future.

Cooper’s Project Imagine is aimed at transforming health care in South Jersey while investing in Camden’s growth and resilience. Key components include:

• Three new patient towers accommodating up to 745 all-private inpatient beds.
• Expanded surgical and emergency services, including a state-of-the-art emergency department and a bridge to MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.
• Regional emergency preparedness infrastructure, including a new Regional Medical Coordination Center and added surge capacity to enhance statewide emergency response.

Currently under construction at the corner of MLK Boulevard and Haddon Avenue, the first phase – Tower A – is a 10-story, 345,000-square-foot hospital building slated for completion in 2028. It will be connected to MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper by a pedestrian bridge over Haddon Avenue.

Tower A will feature:

• 125 acuity-adaptable private rooms with advanced technology to accommodate diverse patient needs.
• Expanded women’s services, including labor and delivery rooms and a new neonatal intensive care unit.
• Additional operating rooms to meet growing surgical demand.
• Academic and research spaces, including a modern medical library and education areas to support Cooper’s academic mission.
• Emergency preparedness infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art medical command center serving the region.