ApprenticeshipNH Collaborates with ABC NH/VT and Elm Grove Companies to Develop NH’s First Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program
- shills78
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Please enjoy the press release written by Wendy Ducharme from Cookson Communications regarding our new Maintenance Technician program, in collaboration with ApprenticeshipNH and ABC NH/VT.
Concord, N.H. (August 21, 2025 ) – ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce training program of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), has partnered with Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire/ Vermont (ABC NH/VT), and Elm Grove Companies, a leading New Hampshire property management and real estate development firm, to create New Hampshire’s first Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for maintenance technicians. The two-year program combines paid, on-the-job training at Elm Grove Companies with over 300 hours of related coursework at Manchester Community College (MCC) and NHTI-Concord’s Community College.
Maintenance technicians are responsible for upkeep, repairs, troubleshooting and customer service to keep multifamily or commercial properties running smoothly. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that demand for maintenance technicians will grow through at least 2033, yet New Hampshire employers report that a wave of retirements have created vacancies that have been challenging to fill.
Matt Menning, a principal at Elm Grove Companies, says that developing a maintenance technician apprenticeship was part of a strategic decision to meet workforce needs by creating programs that draw prospective employees to the company to advance their careers. “Our goal is to offer the tools, training, pay, benefits and career pathways that attract qualified employees to us,” he explained.
When Elm Grove found that a maintenance technician RAP did not exist in the Granite State, the company approached ABC NH/VT in 2024 about creating one modeled on the association’s carpentry apprenticeship. ABC NH/VT quickly agreed to be a sponsor to administer, manage and set standards for the new apprenticeship program.
“The Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship program is a vital step toward addressing the critical workforce shortage in New Hampshire’s construction and maintenance industries,” said Joshua Reap, president and CEO of ABC NH/VT. “This initiative not only equips individuals with high-demand skills but also strengthens our communities by fostering career pathways that offer competitive wages and long-term stability. As a sponsor of the program, we are proud to partner with Elm Grove Companies to create this pathway.”
In January 2025, ApprenticeshipNH joined ABC NH/VT and Elm Grove to provide technical assistance to create the new RAP, help secure state and federal approvals, and provide scholarships to help cover the educational costs for apprentices.
“One of our challenges was to develop a curriculum that complemented on-the-job training since maintenance technicians do so many things, from HVAC and welding to carpentry and mechanical repairs,” commented Tracey Jackson, coordinator for the East central and Southern Hubs for ApprenticeshipNH. ApprenticeshipNH worked with MCC and NHTI to develop a module of courses that cover introductory electricity, carpentry, drywalling, HVAC, OSHA training, CPR and more.
Scholarships for the academic costs for the apprenticeship are available through ApprenticeshipNH. Coursework at MCC and NHTI accompanies structured, paid on-the-job training at Elm Grove Companies. Participants are tested on core competencies before advancing through the two-year apprenticeship.
“Maintenance technician is a professional job with a lot of variety and customer interaction,” said Menning. “We wanted to blaze a trail with the first apprenticeship to teach required skills and break the stigma that maintenance technician is ‘less than’ other trades. This will be beneficial for Elm Grove as well as for the industry as a whole,” commented Menning.
Elm Grove Companies is accepting applications now for the new Maintenance Technician Registered Apprenticeship Program. For more information, please email apprenticeship@elmgrovecompanies.com.
ApprenticeshipNH ApprenticeshipNH is a workforce training program of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) created in 2018 to foster a skilled workforce and provide career pathways through high-quality Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs. Working in partnership with NH’s Federal Office of Apprenticeship and funded by U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grants, the program helps employers in key industries create a pipeline of skilled workers through combined classroom instruction and on-the-job training in an “earn-while-you-learn” model. The program offers technical support to help employers create Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs, provides financial support to apprentices and pre-apprentices, and coordinates pre-apprenticeship opportunities with employers and high schools. Learn more at ApprenticeshipNH.com.
Elm Grove Companies Elm Grove Companies is a vertically integrated real estate investment firm with a New England focus. Headquartered in Hooksett, NH, Elm Grove Companies specializes in multifamily apartment acquisition, development, construction, property management and asset management and currently owns and manages nearly 2,000 apartments.
Associated Builders and Contractors of NH and Vermont ABC NH/VT represents nearly 300 firms in New Hampshire. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC NH/VT is a chapter of the national Associated Builders & Contractors, and has the mission of helping members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, profitably and for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. ABC’s membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors.
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