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BIA Uses CBG Funds to Create Student Recruitment Materials
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Workforce development display at Building Futures 2009 | By holding fairs and employer-education events and by visiting area high schools, the North State Building Industry Association in greater Sacramento, Calif., has been encouraging middle and high school students to enroll in construction training classes.
The BIA was able to create recruitment materials — including display booths and brochures — with matching funds available through the National Housing Endowment’s Challenge/Build/Grow (CBG) initiative.
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BIA member Todd Beingessner at the Green Home Expo | Under the CBG program, which provides matching grants of up to $5,000, HBAs find opportunities to build new partnerships in their communities by assisting local programs targeting issues of importance to the industry — including job training, image building and labor shortage and educational support.
During the North State BIA’s 16-month recruitment blitz, which started in May 2008 and lasted up to the start of the new school year this fall, members met with students at nine career and “green” fairs and three employer-education events. They also helped students create resumes and polish their interview skills during visits to eight local high schools as part of the BIA’s workforce development initiative.
BIA members provided information about residential construction careers to middle and high school students, their parents and teachers — more than 4,200 people in all — during the recruitment program.
The funds to develop the recruitment materials and displays were “greatly appreciated and have improved our ability to communicate with educators, students and parents about career opportunities in residential construction,” said Rick Larkey, director of workforce development for the North State BIA
With endowment and grant support, the BIA also developed additional workforce development materials, including its “Youth Employment Manual” targeting 16- and 17-year-olds and “The BIA Workforce News,” a monthly online magazine featuring employers, students and residential construction training providers that is distributed to more than 1,200 businesses and schools.
“Building homes for the nation is too important a priority to neglect the education and training that will be needed to support the residential construction industry,” said Gary Garczynski, endowment chairman and 2002 NAHB president “Through the Challenge/Build/Grow Matching Grant Initiative as well as other grants, the endowment is partnering with our state and local associations and answering the call by meeting the industry's long-term challenges with bold thinking and action.”
Since the CBG program was launched in 2001, the National Housing Endowment has awarded more than $165,000 to state and local HBAs throughout the country.
For more information about grant or scholarship opportunities, visit www.nationalhousingendowment.org.
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Members, students enjoy a break during a BIA visit to Sheldon High School in Sacramento, Calif. |
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