Sixteen individuals recently graduated from a new "express" plumbing and electrical training course created by the workforce development nonprofit CareerEdge Funders Collaborative and Manatee Technical College. The program was created to quickly move individuals into apprenticeship-based occupations in various trades. Graduates of the three-month program received National Center for Construction Education and Research, CPR, forklift and Occupational Safety and Health Administration credentials. Starting wages for entry-level plumbing and electrical technician positions are approximately $15 per hour.