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.
To read more, visit: https://www.secondwavemedia.com/rural-innovation-exchange/devnews/IAI-DNR.aspx.