$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.”

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Phil Hall

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Jan 27, 2020

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