In an effort to support its job growth, Bath Iron Works has its eye on more training.

The manufacturing giant officially opened its new Trades Learning Center on Wednesday that brought Gov. Paul LePage to town. The center will provide training space and equipment for newly hired pipefitters, welders, tinsmiths, electricians and other tradesmen and women as they undergo multi-week curricula to ground them in shipyard safety, specialized skills for their trades, naval shipbuilding terminology and more.

“We’ll put new tradesmen and women through the training, essentially folks who haven’t worked here before and need to refine their skills — welding, electrical, pipefitting, etc. — to work in a naval shipbuilding environment,” said Matt Wickenheiser, communications principal for BIW. “We expect to hire upward of 500 tradesmen and women this year; we’ve hired 200 since the beginning of the year.”

He anticipates most, if not all, of the new hires to undergo training at the facility.

BIW President Fred Harris said the Trades Learning Center was made possible through a focused investment by the company coupled with support from the Maine Quality Centers to aid with training. The new training facility — part of BIW’s $60 million in facility upgrades and new construction being invested in the yard — will ensure Bath Iron Works employees are ready to perform their jobs in the new manufacturing facilities that are being constructed with support from the state of Maine through the establishment of a Pine Tree Zone and a Tax Increment Financing District created by the city of Bath.

“Competition between states for manufacturing jobs has never been greater, and having skilled people to fill those jobs is critical,” said Harris in a prepared statement. “Through this new facility, we are helping to build the skills our new employees will need to work safely and productively.”

The facility will aid the company with its continued stability and growth of skilled manufacturing jobs, as the shipyard plans to hire several hundred skilled workers this year to build Arleigh Burke and Zumwalt class destroyers for the Navy. Bath Iron Works is currently building three Zumwalt class destroyers and two Arleigh Burkes, and expects to have a third Arleigh Burke under construction this summer.

“Global competition for manufacturing is fierce, but Bath Iron Works constantly leads the shipbuilding industry through innovation, cost-effectiveness, precision work and the latest modern technology,” said LePage in a prepared statement. “The Trades Learning Center is BIW’s latest initiative to retain the highly skilled professionals who are crucial to the shipyard’s ability to compete worldwide. I commend BIW for its dedication to creating and preserving first-rate jobs for Mainers and for continuing our state’s long and proud maritime tradition.”

In addition to LePage and his wife, Ann, other guests joining the tour included Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette, Bath City Council Chairwoman Mari Eosco, Bath City Manager Bill Giroux, Southern Maine Community College President Ron Cantor and Maine Community College System Center for Career Development Executive Director Jim McGowan.

SMCC instructors are helping train BIW’s marine electricians, Wickenheiser said, adding “the system is also helping us develop training curriculum.” “The Maine Community College System is pleased to be working with BIW to develop and deliver training programs for occupations such as marine electricians,” McGowan said in a prepared statement. “These efforts keep both Maine workers and businesses competitive it today’s rapidly changing global economy.”

“This is a great opportunity for young people in this region,” added Giroux in a prepared statement. “This training facility will prepare hundreds of people to be the next generation of shipbuilders.”

Bath Iron Works is the state’s largest manufacturer and one of Maine’s largest private employers with a 2012 payroll of about $350 million. Its approximately 5,400 employees come from every county in Maine except for Piscataquis. The company conducted $67 million in business with 355 Maine companies in 12 counties in 2012, and $49 million of that was with 308 small businesses.

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