SBWI and Carpenters Union Announce Partnership
Partnership combines industry-informed education, additional credentials, and apprenticeship opportunities to help students pursue careers with strong wages and benefits.
ADRIAN TOWNSHIP, Michigan, — A new opportunity to build a rewarding career is taking shape in Adrian Township. The Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute (SBWI) and the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters (NMRCC) are announcing a partnership that connects hands-on education with industry credentials and union apprenticeship opportunities, helping students turn practical skills into the foundation for high-wage careers, financial stability, and work they can take pride in.
The partnership reflects NMRCC’s recognition of the value of SBWI’s curriculum, hands-on instruction, and the industry credentials students earn during their education. SBWI programs in Preservation, Carpentry, and Timber Framing include training and certifications already required within apprenticeship training, including OSHA 30, forklift operation, lead-safe work practices, first aid, and other jobsite safety qualifications. This alignment helps connect students’ preparation at SBWI with the expectations of union apprenticeship and professional construction work.
Building on that foundation, SBWI is also incorporating Career Connections into its broader programs, giving students the opportunity to earn up to three additional levels of certificates from the Carpenters International Training Fund. Students who meet the applicable requirements can earn an additional 15 apprenticeship interview points through Career Connections, on top of the up to 10 points available for completing an SBWI career program, for a potential combined total of 25 points.
Developed by the Carpenters International Training Fund (CITF) and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Career Connections prepares students for further training in the construction trades. Its curriculum combines practical carpentry with construction math, safety, tool use, and workplace skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and professionalism. About Career Connections.
“We want graduates to earn a living doing what they love. Watching something being built or repaired, with your own hands is incredibly rewarding. Over the past 50 years, we seem to have forgotten that carpentry is one of the most honorable careers one can pursue. Carpenters provide the shelter that is a basic requirement for human life.” said Luke Barnett, president and co-founder of the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute. “This partnership gives people the opportunity to do highly rewarding work while earning a great living. We are creating opportunities for people to pursue work they love, earn strong wages, support their families, and build a future that can change the course of their lives.”
The partnership offers students several opportunities to carry their education forward:
Up to 25 total apprenticeship interview points. Completing an SBWI career program can provide up to 10 points in the relevant Michigan Statewide Carpenters & Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship & Training Program interview process. Through Career Connections, students who satisfy the applicable requirements will have the opportunity to earn an additional 15 points.
Up to three additional certificate levels. Alongside their SBWI credential, participating students can work toward Career Connections Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 certificates through CITF, documenting their progress as they complete each level’s requirements.
Potential credit toward apprenticeship training. Once accepted into the apprenticeship program, candidates may receive up to 96 hours of Related Training Instruction credit with proper SBWI transcripts.
The partnership builds on a broad collaboration between education and industry. The curricula for SBWI’s Timber Framing and Architectural Carpentry & Preservation programs were developed with support from Michigan State University and input from union and non-union employers ranging from small boutique shops to large national construction companies.
Michigan State University helped facilitate and host the subject-matter expert meetings that guided curriculum development. Carpenters, timber framers, preservation specialists, architects, engineers, project managers, and educators contributed their experience, helping shape training around the skills needed in professional practice. That breadth of involvement prepares students to explore opportunities ranging from specialized craft businesses and historic restoration to major construction projects. Timber Framing curriculum development, Architectural Carpentry & Preservation curriculum development.
For students pursuing union apprenticeship, the next stage offers a model built around earning while learning. Michigan’s four-year apprenticeship program combines paid work with classroom training, progressive pay increases, and access to health insurance and pension benefits. Participants develop their expertise while earning an income and preparing for long-term careers in the trades. Michigan apprenticeship information.
“Strong careers begin with strong preparation,” said Andy Showers, Statewide Training Director for Northern Midwest Carpenters affiliated Joint Apprenticeship Training Council. “By integrating Career Connections and recognizing the training students complete at SBWI, we are helping motivated people take meaningful steps toward apprenticeship. We are excited about what that can mean for future carpenters, their families, and the communities they will help build.”
For Adrian Township and Lenawee County, the collaboration strengthens the connection between local education and the skilled workforce that builds and maintains communities. It creates another route into the trades for young adults, veterans, and people changing careers, while helping contractors connect with applicants who have invested in developing their skills.
The announcement comes during a period of growth for SBWI. The institute is preparing to launch full-time Timber Framing and Architectural Carpentry & Preservation programs in fall 2027, expanding its career offerings alongside Furniture Design. Its planned $16.5 million campus in Adrian Township will provide expanded facilities for hands-on instruction, supporting the community’s growing role as a destination for craftsmanship and career preparation. SBWI program and campus announcement.
Prospective students and graduates can learn more at sbwi.edu or contact admissions@sbwi.edu at (517) 759-3070. Information about Michigan apprenticeship applications is available through Build MI Future.
About Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute
Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute is an accredited, nonprofit woodworking and carpentry trade school in Adrian Township, Michigan. Through career programs and continuing education, SBWI combines technical skill, creativity, and hands-on learning to prepare students for work in furniture making, timber framing, architectural carpentry, and related fields. Learn more at sbwi.edu.
About the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters
The Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters represents approximately 36,000 union members and their families across Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Chartered by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, the council supports skilled-trades careers through training, representation, and opportunities for professional advancement. Learn more at NMRCC’s website.
Media Contact
Luke Barnett, President
Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute
Luke@sbwi.edu