In the harbor town of Cedarville, Michigan, the Marine Trades Institute is tackling one of the country’s most urgent workforce challenges: the shortage of skilled trades professionals. Once known as the Great Lakes Boat Building School, the nonprofit educational institution has spent the past two decades training students for hands-on careers in boat building and marine technology — and this year, it’s celebrating a major milestone.
Now in its 20th year, the school is growing rapidly to meet demand from employers across the country — and supporters looking to help shape the next chapter of that growth can double the impact of their contribution thanks to a matching grant by the Make It Better Foundation.
Building Skills That Float
What began in 2005 as a small workshop dedicated to preserving the art of traditional wooden boat building has evolved into a nationally accredited training institute with two core schools: the Boat Building School and the Marine Technology School. Together, they offer specialized certifications in areas like marine service technology and marine electronics, pairing time-tested craftsmanship with the tools of a modern, tech-forward industry.
The stakes are high — and growing. “There is a growing need in the marine industry for skilled workers, and like with many trades, we expect that trend to continue,” says Nikki Storey, President of Marine Trades Institute. Employers from across the U.S., including Van Dam Custom Boats, Irish Boat Shop, and Tiara Yachts, regularly turn to the school to recruit new talent.
This increasing demand for skilled labor is part of a broader national trend. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are projected to be approximately 663,500 job openings per year in construction and extraction fields through 2033, driven by both industry growth and retirements.
From Regional Roots to National Reach
Earlier this year, the school announced a rebrand to reflect its expanding footprint and evolving curriculum. Now operating under the broader name Marine Trades Institute, the organization is restructuring its programs to better meet workforce demands and to open new funding pathways at the federal level. The Boat Building School continues to house the school’s original flagship program, while the Marine Technology School focuses on technical certifications with growing enrollment.
Students hail from across the U.S. and Canada, and many graduates step into jobs immediately after completing the year-long program. With more than 200 alumni already working in the field — and demand increasing — the school’s leaders knew it was time to grow.
That demand is backed by national projections. A recent Washington Post analysis reports that 1.9 million manufacturing and skilled-trade jobs could remain unfilled by 2033 — a gap driven by an aging workforce and limited training pipelines.
Anchoring the Future
This summer, Marine Trades Institute broke ground on a new 10,000-square-foot training facility for its Marine Technology School. The expanded space will allow the Institute to double its annual enrollment from 25–30 students to 50.
The expansion didn’t stop there. The school also acquired the historic Taylor Lumber building across the street from campus — a property with deep roots in Cedarville’s history. Originally operated as a sawmill by Frank Taylor in the 1960s, the building later became part of Tri County Building Centers, a locally owned business with six locations across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Brien Hanna, who now owns the company and was mentored by Taylor, saw the sale as a way to continue both organizations’ legacies.
“This is an opportunity to help drive the continued success of both ourselves and the Marine Trades Institute,” Hanna said. “Frank was a longtime supporter of the Boat School and viewed this opportunity the same as I did — a win-win.”
Storey agrees. “I’ll add an additional ‘win’ onto Mr. Hanna’s ‘win-win’ mentality with this sale, because this transition will not only drive continued success for ourselves and Tri County Building Centers, but also amplifies our economic impact in Cedarville — making this a win-win-win for the entire community.”
Crafted for a Cause — and a Career
As the school celebrates 20 years of impact, it’s also hosting a fundraising event that underscores what’s at stake. Crafted for a Cause, taking place August 22 at Les Cheneaux Distillers, aims to raise $30,000 for the school’s Student Enrichment Fund — a resource that helps pay for essential equipment, field trips, and professional development opportunities that enrich student life and career readiness.
The event will feature dinner, drinks, live music, vendor displays, and a reverse raffle with 20 prizes — including a $5,000 grand prize. And this year, every dollar raised by event sponsors will go twice as far: a $10,000 matching grant from the Make It Better Foundation will double the impact of sponsor contributions.
Why Support Marine Trades Institute Now?
At a time when workforce gaps in the skilled trades are widening — a 2024 McKinsey & Company report cited the “record-high pressure” on the skilled-labor market — schools like Marine Trades Institute are essential: not only are they training future marine technicians and boat builders, they’re also helping fill a national pipeline that’s in urgent need of reinforcements.
With deep industry ties, a growing alumni network, and a curriculum rooted in real-world application, MTI offers students a clear path to meaningful employment in an often-overlooked but vital sector of the economy.
“This year also marks the 20th anniversary for our school,” says Storey. “We are deeply grateful to the visionary leaders who charted this course for us, the unwavering support of individuals like Mr. Taylor and Mr. Hanna, and the incredible backing of our community. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to a future where Marine Trades Institute continues to thrive, shaping the future of the marine industry by empowering the next generation of professionals.”
How to Help
You can help launch the next generation of marine technicians and craftspeople — and double your impact — by supporting the Aug. 22 Crafted for a Cause fundraiser and Student Enrichment Fund at Marine Trades Institute. The Make It Better Foundation is making your contribution go further by matching donations up to $10,000.
