MOUNT VERNON – The Ohio Contractors Association (OCA) and the Knox County Career Center building trades lab kicked off a student service project at the Mount Vernon Fire Station on Oct 21.

The OCA donated a $2,000 grant for the project in which the students built a patio for the firefighters to enjoy leisure time with each other and their families. 

“We approached the school earlier this summer because we wanted to create a way for the students to have an arm’s reach into the heavy highway industry,” Melanie Kitchen, director of Chapter Development for the OCA said. “That’s the industry we represent.” 

There were other companies there to support the Building Trades lab in their endeavors, including Smalls Sand and Gravel company. Kokosing Construction contractor Nicole DiVille and Ruhlin Co. contractor Jackie Guttman were also in attendance, ready to talk to the students who will soon be joining the workforce. 

“Our members are very passionate about encouraging the young workforce,” Kitchen said. “There’s a lot of jobs in the construction industry right now and we want to support that; and we also want to share the heavy highway segment as well because that’s who we represent, but also because people might not think of heavy highway construction when they think of construction.”

The Mount Vernon Fire Station was ready and prepared to help the students understand the girth of the work they have decided to look into. The community members who gathered and the contractors there were all excited to see the young faces come out to work on a project that will benefit the community. 

“We are excited to get these students here, in a hands-on project that not only helps them but also helps the community,” Mount Vernon Fire Chief Chad Christopher said.