By Bernadette Braman

For business own- ers and policy makers in Massachusetts not already grappling with unfilled demand for skilled workers, recent news that Universal Technical Institute (UTI) plans to close its Norwood, Massachusetts campus next year should be a wake-up call.

Since the Norwood campus opened 14 years ago, our company, South Shore Generator, has benefited from the highly skilled technicians who received their training there.

Unfortunately, like many colleges, universi- ties and technical schools in Massachusetts, the Norwood campus can’t attract enough students to remain viable. The 240,000 square foot facil- ity was built to serve 2,220 students from across

New England, but now has just 350. Given the reality of the situation, UTI’s move is understandable, and the institute is making a sensible transition to a business model based on smaller campuses located where there’s strong demand. It’s not a move they took lightly.

They’ll continue to have an admissions team working in Massachusetts, and I hope students continue to pursue the advanced training UTI and other trade schools offer.

Businesses and government must work together to promote the value of vocational education.

Declining enrollment is a major problem facing much of the country, especially New England. And it’s only going to get worse. One of the causes is a significant drop in the birthrate that followed the Great Recession. According to a recent article in US News & World Report, there were an estimated 2.3 fewer babies born in the U.S. between 2008 and 2013, with New England leading the way with the lowest birthrate in the country. The article describes a “slow moving storm,” and cites estimates that the number of students graduating from high school in New England will be 24 percent lower in 2029 than it was in 2012.

Those numbers have already caused several colleges in Massachusetts, like Mt. Ida, to close, and others to merge. Still others are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.

These demographic pressures only exacerbate another challenge faced by trade schools: the tired but persistent narrative that it’s better to go to a four-year college and get a white collar job. But is it better to work in an office building, or to build an office building? Or in our case, to install the commercial generators used in the office building?

There’s a strong argument to be made for Businesses and government must work together to promote the value of vocational education.

With our generators, your drive doesn’t need to stop when the power goes out. technical training. The trades offer job security, high wages, and students graduating from trade school don’t carry the monstrous debts associ- ated with four-year colleges.

Blue collar guru Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” fame has been preaching that message for years. But are people listening? Rowe notes that there are an estimated 6 million unfilled blue-collar skilled jobs in the US.

More importantly, technical training is criti- cal to the economic well-being of our region.

According to “Blue Print for the Next Century 2.0,” a study on economic development pub- lished by Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), “Massachusetts employers name the shortage of qualified workers as the central impediment to the future of the economy.” So what can we do in the face of this slow moving, and gathering, storm? Businesses and government must work together to promote the value of vocational education. Massachusetts can succeed in a rapidly changing global econo- my – but only if it has a highly trained technical workforce.

It’s essential we make the case for young people that blue collar work gets them off to an early start with a good wage. It provides them with early savings and more time for increased wages over their next five years - with little to no debt. Our future here at SSG and the future of other similar companies, not to mention the overall economy, depends on it.

Interested in a career in generators? Contact South Shore Generator Sales & Service Inc. at gm@ssgen.com

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The time to prepare for a hurricane is NOW, before the season begins. Once you’re under pressure, having a written plan will take the guesswork out of what you need to do to protect you and your family.

Know where you will ride out the storm and get your supplies now. You don’t want to be standing in long lines when a Hurricane Watch is issued. Those supplies that you need will probably be sold out by the time you reach the front of the line.

Being prepared now will mean the difference between your being a hurricane victim and a hurricane survivor. ready.gov/make-a-plan

Hurricane Safety Page

Remember, it only takes one storm to change your life and community. For more information on hurricanes and hurricane safety, visit weather.gov/safety/hurricane

Many Americans rely on their neighbors after a disaster, but there are also many ways you can help your neighbors before a hurricane approaches. Learn about all the different actions your community can take to prepare and recover from the hazards associated with hurricanes: ready.gov/neighbors

If you plan to ride out a hurricane in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications. Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand high winds. fema.gov/what-mitigation

This Hurricane Preparedness Week, call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance checkup to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or even replace your home. ...and remember, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, you’ll need a separate policy for flooding. floodsmart.gov. Act now as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.

Just having enough supplies to make it through a hurricane isn’t enough. You need plenty to make it through what could be a LONG recovery period too. Water and electricity could be out for a week or more. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family for a MINIMUM of one week. Also make sure you have extra cash, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, and a portable crank or solar powered USB charger to charge your cell phone. ready.gov/kit

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Take some time this week - Hurricane Preparedness Week - to make sure you have a hurricane evacuation plan. The first thing you need to do is find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if you’re in a home that would be unsafe during a hurricane. If you are, figure out where you’d go and how you’d get there if told to evacuate. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles. Identify someone, perhaps a friend or relative who doesn’t live in an evacuation zone or unsafe home, and coordinate with them to use their home as your evacuation destination. Be sure to account for your pets, as most local shelters do not permit them. Put the plan in writing for you and those you care about. hurricanes.gov/prepare

The threats from hurricanes to you and your family can vary widely depending on where you live. It’s not just those along the coast that can experience significant, life-threatening impacts. Evaluate what you need to do to protect your home and family NOW, before the first storm of the season even forms. hurricanes.gov/prepare