Apprenticeship & Technical Institute

The foundation of Powering Chicago’s commitment to better construction is a continuous investment in training for its members and the use of the latest technology in electrical construction to ensure every job is completed in accordance with the highest standards in the industry. Emblematic of this commitment is an innovative apprenticeship program for future Powering Chicago electricians at the IBEW/NECA Technical Institute in Alsip, IL.

Funded exclusively by Powering Chicago members, who invest in the future of skilled labor, the state-of-the-art institute sits on 29 acres in suburban Chicago and is comprised of numerous classrooms and technical labs within the 120,000-square-foot building. The institute features a one-of-a-kind Renewable Energy Training Field complete with solar, wind and battery storage components for apprentices and journeymen and women to learn about the latest technological advancements within the industry.

Apprentices take part in a five-year paid program that combines 1,200 hours of classroom training with extensive on-the-job training. During the program, apprentices learn basic electrical principles, safety standards, new technology, and the latest compliance standards in line with the Chicago electrical code.

The final two years of the program are flexible, and apprentices have the opportunity to participate in seminars on specific topics that will best serve them in the field. By the conclusion of the program, each apprentice is equipped with the skills necessary to advance the industry to ever-higher standards and performance.

+5 Homeowner Protection Plan

Add Five Years Peace of Mind to Your New Home

Dedicated to superior work and customer service, Powering Chicago guarantees the quality of our electrical construction work with an innovative warranty policy. With our +5 Program, when a new home is wired by an ECA electrical contractor employing IBEW Local 134 electricians, the electrical materials and workmanship are automatically protected for an additional five years beyond the builder’s one-year warranty.

In the unlikely event there is a problem, we’ll promptly fix it for free. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your electrical work is safe and guaranteed.

Sign up for your Homeowner Protection Plan.

Scholarship EISP

For more than a decade, Powering Chicago has sponsored the Electrical Industry Scholarship Program (EISP), which provides two scholarships each year to children of Local 134 members interested in working within the electrical industry. Chosen by a panel of professors from different universities in the community, EISP scholars must meet Powering Chicago’s high standards, including maintaining their grade point average, to receive scholarship support of $5,000 per year for up to a total of four years.

To qualify for the EISP scholarship, applications must 1) be a high school senior in their first term of attendance or a college student and 2) plan to pursue a field of study directly related to the electrical industry. Finally, they must be children of Local 134 members in good standing who are working under the Principal Agreement, Communication Agreement, or Residential Agreement. Children of deceased members may also be eligible.

The annual scholarship competition opens in January and the application deadline is March 1. Information on the EISP scholarship is circulated to Local 134 members each December.

Powering Chicago is pleased to recognize the current EISP scholars:

Mark Dillon
2016 EISP Scholar
Purdue University

Lillian Felsenthal
2018 EISP Scholar
Northeastern University

Alec Fowler
2015 EISP Scholar
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Michael Kulinski
2016 EISP Scholar
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Michael O’Connor
2017 EISP Scholar
Grand Valley State University

Julia Roessler
2018 EISP Scholar
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lauren Swain
2017 EISP Scholar
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

Tuition Reimbursement

Fifty years ago, ECA Chicago and Local Union IBEW established the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-TECH) as the premier apprenticeship education center for Local 134 electricians. To encourage students to pursue managerial positions within the industry, the IBEW-NECA Tuition Reimbursement Program was put into place for IN-TECH graduates who transfer into the Industrial Technology and Management (INTM) program at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).

The IBEW-NECA tuition reimbursement program covers up to $6,000 per year for undergraduate students taking four courses per year, or 50 percent of tuition costs for a graduate student taking a maximum of three courses per year. Supported students must pursue the Industrial Facilities Construction Technology specialization within the INTM degree program at IIT. Coursework for the track includes construction and project management, estimating contract administration, maintenance of buildings, and facilities and equipment.

IN-TECH graduates, as well as fourth- and fifth-year apprentices who have been accepted to the INTM degree program, may apply for tuition reimbursement. Applicants must have completed the IN-TECH Apprenticeship Program, be an IBEW Local 134 member in good standing, and maintain a minimum grade point average.

For more information or to obtain an application for the IBEW-NECA Tuition Reimbursement Program, contact:

Pamela Houser
Industrial Technology & Management
Illinois Institute of Technology
3424 S. State St., Suite 4001
Chicago, IL 60616
Ph: (312) 567-3584

To learn more about the INTM curriculum, visit the program online.