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Kentucky Students Graduate Pre-Apprenticeship Program, Get Jobs
 Seven carpentry students graduated from the Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky’s inaugural African American Construction Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Program in Carpentry earlier this month. The program was funded through the Challenge/Build/Grow Matching Grant Initiative of the National Housing Endowment — the philanthropic arm of NAHB.
All seven of the students found jobs with the association’s member companies.
The 16-week program is part of a successful training initiative by the Kentucky association to provide training for minorities and job placement assistance for graduates of the program.
The program — taught by instructors Ron Colyers of The Drees Company, contractor Dave Harwood and YouthBuild’s Eddy Anderson — included an introduction to carpentry, basic construction math with practical application, resume preparation, floor/wall/roof framing, a construction site visit, two guest speakers and hands-on shop projects.
Grant funds were used to provide students with textbooks and a basic set of hand tools, including a handsaw, tape measure, safety glasses, hammer, level and speed square. Association members also provided tools and materials, job placement and additional funds to cover program expenses.
The Northern Kentucky association used the Home Builders Institute Carpentry book of the Residential Construction Academy Series as the textbook for the program and has adopted the series for its carpentry and HVAC apprenticeship programs.
The graduates were also offered a one-year, tuition-paid scholarship toward the association’s Residential Carpentry Apprenticeship Program, first begun in 1967.
“The African American population is another underrepresented segment of the population in the construction industry. Many times these individuals lack the skills and initial financial resources to begin careers in the construction industry,” said Dan Dressman, the association’s executive vice president. “Thanks to the National Housing Endowment for making this program possible.”
The National Housing Endowment is currently accepting applications for the next cycle of the Challenge/Build/Grow Matching Grant Initiative. Prospective applicants can download applications at the National Housing Endowment Web site, www.nationalhousingendowment.org.
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