Ilitch Holdings Inc. in Detroit today announced the creation of more than 670 apprentice and pre-apprentice positions for skilled trade laborers since 2015 in The District Detroit, the 50-block area that includes Little Caesars Arena.
So far, 673 apprentices have been hired to work on Little Caesars Arena, more than half of whom are Detroit residents, and the organization has plans to hire hundreds more as construction continues. The arena will host the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons, concerts, and other events when it opens on Sept. 12.
“The District Detroit has always been envisioned as a Michigan made, Detroit built development that provides jobs and opportunity to our community,” says Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings. “With Little Caesars Arena opening next month and many more projects underway, we’re proud that hundreds of local residents have been set on a path toward new careers, with more opportunities to come.”
Skilled trade apprenticeships provide a path to long-term careers in ironwork, electrical, plumbing, and carpentry, and additional positions are expected to be created as the Little Caesars global headquarters continues to expand in the coming years. Other projects in the district include new and renovated apartments, offices, shops, eateries, and a five-star hotel.
Additionally, more than $445 million in contracts for The District Detroit have been awarded to Detroit-based companies, and more than $650 million have gone to Michigan-based companies.
“The District Detroit continues to provide great employment opportunities for Detroiters,” adds Nicole Stallings, deputy director of workforce development for the City of Detroit. “The apprenticeships in particular are helping to train residents and prepare them for careers in the skilled trades. With the construction boom the city is continuing to experience, we expect there to be an abundance of opportunities for years to come.”
Detroiters have worked more than 538,000 hours on the Little Caesars Arena and the Little Caesars headquarters (scheduled to open next year) expansion sites to date. The $1.2 billion District Detroit project will create more than 12,500 construction and construction-related jobs, and at least 3,000 permanent jobs, ultimately generating more than $2 billion in economic impact.