Infrastructure bill to impact local college courses, provide more jobs

(ABC 6 News) – The infrastructure bill will provide many new jobs to people in construction.

Peter Hilger, Faculty Director of the Construction and Facility Management Program at the University of Minnesota, said he doesn’t think there will be a lot of change to jobs in the trade industry right away, but there will be a need for these labor jobs.

"Virtually every student in my program is getting a job. It’s amazing they’re plucking them out before they’re even ready just to make sure they can get them in the track. So this will certainly draw more students to I think construction management, I think we’ll see that, but not a lot though," Hilger says.

Here in southeast Minnesota, Riverland Community College is going to be offering a new course this spring for students in construction management.

Dean of Academic Affairs, Ryan Langemeier, said this infrastructure bill will be good for the industry.

"This is going to be a growing industry. We’ll definitely provide the opportunity to expand their knowledge and be in that management role," Langemeier said.

The new program will start in January and will be 18 credits for both the traditional and non-traditional student. Riverland expects the classes will fill up fast,