What’s happening: A special alloy of workforce development and environmental stewardship efforts continues to take shape in Presque Isle County. A group of welding students at the
Industrial Arts Institute (IAI) in Onaway has built a footbridge to be installed at
Harrisville State Park later this summer. It’s the result of a unique partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the IAI.
What was built: The DNR invited IAI students to build a footbridge that connects the Harrisville State Park day-use area with the campground. Expected to be installed later this summer, the footbridge will better connect visitors, campers, and park staff to different areas of the 107-acre, Lake Huron-adjacent park.
Who built it: The IAI is a nonprofit workforce development school that offers comprehensive welding and advanced metal fabrication programs to area students, providing them career opportunities in the field. The Onaway-based school specializes in a hands-on approach to learning the welding trade, providing students opportunities to see their projects put to use in real world applications – à la the soon-to-come footbridge at Harrisville State Park.
More to come: This is the second such project of which the DNR has collaborated with IAI students; the first featured student-built trail gates along the North Central, North Eastern, and North Western state trails, first installed in 2021. And there’s more to come. Future IAI-DNR projects may include student-built fireplaces, fee pipes, welcome signs, and more.
Why it’s important: “Students have been a part of creating DNR projects such as the gates for the state trails and footbridges for state parks since early 2021,” says Tamara Ward, executive director of the Industrial Arts Institute. “This partnership has allowed IAI to train our welders and fabricators with real-world projects and provides an opportunity for our students to use their skills to bring value to the communities they live and play in.”
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.
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