At the 2018 Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute annual meeting, the Board of Directors sought to find a solution to improve workforce development in the industry. According to Dennis Smith, ICPI's director of marketing and membership, one of the largest problems for contractors is recruiting and hiring qualified employees. The directors came up with the idea of implementing a boot camp to provide inexperienced workers with basic skills necessary on a segmental pavement job site. To test this program and the materials developed by Frank Bourque of Greenmark, the ICPI hosted a two-day pilot Boot Camp at Atlas Outdoor in Burton, Mich. on August 20 - 21.

During the pilot course, Bourque instructed five beginner students with the installation of interlocking concrete pavements for a patio. The course included eight hours of classroom training and eight hours of hands-on training. The pilot program was well received by the students.

Once the curriculum is adjusted and approved, the program will kick-start in the fall. ICPI hopes that this program will be the first phase in the process of engaging new installers, with the expectation that the program will expand in the winter and spring across the country. For more details, visit https://tinyurl.com/y7lspycd.