Union Finishing Trades for Women Program
Union Finishing Trades for Women Program
INQUIRE NOW FOR MAY 2026 START!
Eligible Women: Prepare for a new union finishing trades job at no cost to you!
- Short-term training and employment program
- Connections to Registered Apprenticeship and local employers
- Provides the support and resources you need to be successful
Interested?
Interested in this program or need more information?
Please contact us here and let us know about your interest!
What Are the Finishing Trades?
Finishing trades are specialized construction roles focused on the final, aesthetic, and protective touches of a building project, including painting, coating, glazing, and drywall finishing. These skilled professionals ensure structures are durable, sealed, and visually complete. The union that represents finishing tradespeople is the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). Locally, this is IUPAT DC 82.
Finishing Trades Specialties
Through this program, you will prepare to enter a Registered Apprenticeship and gain employment in one of the following fields:
- Commercial Painter: Applying decorative and protective finishes in residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial settings. Preparing a variety of surfaces (wood, masonry, drywall, plaster, concrete, synthetics, stucco and metal) prior to the application of materials such as paint, high performance coatings, waterproofing, fireproofing, varnish, shellac, wall coverings and special decorative finishes.
- Industrial Coating and Lining Application Specialist: Applying techniques to prepare substrates for coating and lining applications. Also applying and installing protective coatings and linings to steel and concrete on complex structures and for manufacturing purposes. This may be infrastructure like bridges, water towers, and steel structures.
- Drywall Finisher: Preparing drywall panels for painting by taping and finishing the joints and imperfections in the drywall surface.
- Glazier: Selecting, cutting, installing, replacing, and removing all types of glass. Also installing architectural aluminum window systems, glass handrail, mirrors, door entrances and decorative wall systems in commercial and residential buildings.
- Glass Worker: Fabricating aluminum window systems, shower enclosures, mirrors, door entrances and manufacturing glass for commercial and residential buildings. Work is often in manufacturing and fabrication settings.
- Sign Technician: Designing, manufacturing, constructing, painting, installing, and removing signs, billboards, and communication advertising using a variety of materials, methods, and processes.
Program Components
- Assessment and program eligibility determination
- Program orientation
- 4 weeks of hard skills training on-site at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM): 3205 Country Dr #150, Little Canada, MN 55117
- Career exploration and training in work readiness, job search skills, job retention skills, financial management, and more.
- Individualized support, guidance, and coaching to help you complete training
- Connections to opportunities for employment and Registered Apprenticeship
- Post-placement support
Program Eligibility
This program is for Minnesota women who are:
- Women of color (American Indian, Asian, Black, or Hispanic) 18 and older, and/or
- Women over age 50, and/or
- Low-income women (income less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines adjusted for respective family size).
Contact us for help determining your eligibility for this program.