$700K Endeavor to Fund Home Construction Career Training

Jan 27, 2020

A new philanthropic collaboration is providing $700,000 in funding for high school students to train for careers in the home construction industry.

The Home Builders Institute (HBI) announced The Home Depot Foundation will commit up to $500,000 to this endeavor, while the National Housing Endowment (NHE), the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has pledged $200,000 to support the effort. The HBI said the funds will be used to provide high school students with hands-on curriculum, along with instructor training and materials. Upon completion, students will earn a pre-apprenticeship certification endorsed by NAHB and recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The organizations pointed to industry data showing there are an estimated 311,000 open jobs in residential construction fields including carpentry, electrical and plumbing, and they added that they plan to work with the nearly 650 state and local homebuilders associations (HBAs) to reach out to teachers, parents and students.

“Residential construction growth will continue in 2020 and thereafter, supported by low interest rates, solid economic growth and a lack of housing inventory,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz.

Ed Brady, HBI’s president and CEO, said: “At the same time, the homebuilding industry faces a skilled trades gap. As a result, opportunities for well-paid, rewarding careers in residential construction are tremendous.”

About the author

Phil Hall

Link copied

Published

Jan 27, 2020

Analysis and Data

Redfin: Homebuyers Gain Leverage, But Pending Sales Keep Sliding

Pending sales fall 16.4% from a year ago despite lower home prices and mortgage payments, as sellers retreat from a weakening market

Home prices are falling. Mortgage payments are easing. Sellers are becoming more willing to negotiate. Yet the housing market keeps losing buyers.Pending home sales fell 16.4% year over year during the four weeks ending Nov. 1, reaching their lowest level in Redfin's weekly ...

Tech

New AI-Run Mortgage Startup Builds Database Of 224,000 LOs

LenDb.ai is making LO records available to AI assistants, offering a potential new way for borrowers to find originators

A new mortgage technology startup is betting that borrowers will increasingly turn to artificial intelligence to find a loan originator, and it wants to make sure AI knows whom to recommend.LenDb.ai, launched Thursday by venture studio Draper Goren Blockchain, has assembled ...

Feb

Atlanta, GA

More from

Industry News

Fed Holds Rates, But Pricing Pressures Persist

Rising Treasury yields and fresh inflation data complicate rate locks, borrower qualification, and lender margins as markets anticipate another hike in December

Industry News

Oct 29, 2026

Zippy Adds Capital For Manufactured-Home Lending Push

The $20 million investment from Saluda Grade will support expansion beyond 27 states and new loan products across wholesale, retail, and community channels

Industry News

Oct 16, 2026

Inflation Hits 3.7%, Putting Mortgage Rate Relief At Risk

September’s inflation pickup puts recent rate improvements at risk, potentially eroding affordability gains from lower home prices and seller concessions

Industry News

Oct 14, 2026

PLACE Acquires Ardley, Expanding Push To Turn Existing Borrowers Into New Loans

The latest deal connects borrower retention technology with Maxwell's origination platform and PLACE's real estate network, creating new opportunities for lenders

Industry News

Oct 09, 2026

Equifax, TransUnion Launch New Tools To Cut Credit Report Costs

Both bureaus introduce ways to purchase credit scores separately from reports, while Equifax reports growing VantageScore adoption and extends $1 pricing through 2028

Industry News

Oct 09, 2026

Newrez, eXp Realty Form Joint Venture To Target Purchase Business

Revenos Mortgage is set to launch in early 2027, replacing eXp's joint venture with Kind Lending

Industry News

Oct 08, 2026

Popular