Champaign County hosting statewide trades competition

Dozens of trade workers from across Illinois are spending this week at United Association Local 149’s training center, home to the annual Illinois Pipe Trades Association Committee On Training and Education (COTE) contest.

Today and Thursday, apprentices who won their local competition will compete in written tests and hands-on skills, as they solve complicated projects and scenarios at the training center in Savoy. An awards ceremony takes place at 6:30pm Thursday at the I Hotel in Champaign, with winners named in plumbing, welding, pipefitting, sprinkler fitting and HVAC work.

State winners will advance to a regional competition in Iowa, with the chance to advance to the international competition this summer. Last year’s Illinois statewide plumbing winner, Andrew Hall, is a member of Local 149 and went on to win the international plumbing championship.