Build Your Future Program Developing the Next Workforce

If you read my post about the Construction Education Foundation of North Texas, you might recall I recognized this organization as a pocket of excellence. In this post I would like inform you about a program that could provide a foundation for pockets of excellence across the country.

Their website explains the mission:  “Build Your Future is an NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) program that is being enhanced to support the Choose Construction Initiative (CCI), which is a collaborative grassroots approach to construction workforce forecasting and development that will include recruitment, training, placement, retention and image enhancement strategies.  CCI is supported by NCCER, The Construction Workforce Development Center, ABC, AGC and the Construction Users Round Table (CURT).”

The goals of Build Your Future are also listed on the site:

• Make career and technical education a priority in secondary schools
• Shift the public's negative perception about careers in the construction industry to reflect the wide range of professions available
• Provide a path from ambition, to training, to job placement as a craft professional

I have a sixteen year history with NCCER and I am extremely excited to watch this program build momentum.  Build Your Future co-hosted the CEF Construction Career Day on November 2, and having David Starr, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, was an added treat.  David spoke to the students on their lunch break.  David has an endearing personality and is so startling motivated that it was impossible not to be impacted by his personal story.  He told students that taking advantage of opportunities to learn a skill and find some relevance in their high school career can open doors to an exciting future.  Great message.

The Build Your Future program has a multi-strategy approach: recruitment, training, placement, retention and image enhancement.  These provide key elements which a regional or local organization or collaboration can utilize to create an initiative to ensure the skilled craft professionals which we now need and will need to complete our projects and make a positive impact in our communities.  Entry level construction positions provide a real living wage and a path to challenging and lucrative careers for those who take advantage of opportunities to learn new skills.

Visit their website for more information.