COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs (CSHBA) today announced the launch of an expanded regional campaign to promote Careers in Construction (CIC) — funded by a grant from the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment.
The grant’s purpose is to build on the success of CIC, a workforce program developed locally by the CSHBA, Associated General Contractors of Colorado (AGC/C) and area high schools. Careers in Construction was launched in 2015. More than 300 students from four school districts across the Pikes Peak region participate in the program.
Until now, CIC has been entirely funded by donations from construction and trade businesses in Colorado Springs. Now the CSHBA and its allies have more funding to show teens across the Pikes Peak region — as well as their families, educators and community leaders — the value of learning a trade, both for the satisfaction of building a versatile skillset and the career and educational opportunities it will open up later in life.
The initiative includes a newly launched website (GoBuildCO.com), which will be the nerve center for a region-wide multimedia campaign encouraging teens to sign up for shop class and learn about opportunities in trade careers, while also serving as a job placement platform for students and employers looking for skilled trade employees. The campaign also aims to expand the program into new schools while winning more support from local construction and trade businesses.
“This is a win for everybody,” said Renee Zentz, CSHBA’s CEO. “We’ve got a bigger megaphone to tell students about how shop class can give them personal pride, skills they can use their whole life, and even a new career or path to higher education. Many of the successful professionals in the industry today started their careers this very way – in the classroom. To see a program like this reviving that opportunity in our community is very exciting. ”
To learn more about Careers in Construction, visit GoBuildCO.com.
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About Careers in Construction
Careers in Construction was launched in 2015 to help young people connect with construction trade education in the Pikes Peak and Southern Colorado regions — and to encourage our allies in the construction industry to join us in creating good career opportunities while helping their industries.
Careers in Construction is funded through a grant by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and by voluntary contributions from homebuilders and tradespeople in the Pikes Peak Region. Hundreds of students from six are high schools are learning construction career skills through CIC-supported classroom education.
About the Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs
Homes are a cornerstone of the American dream and a major driver of our economy. The Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs (CSHBA) was founded in 1950 as the voice of the homebuilding community and associated trades. We advance best practices, advocate for affordable housing, contribute expertise to regional development issues and serve our community through our workforce initiatives and HBA Cares programs. Find out how we’re helping to build a better Colorado Springs at cshba.com and hbacares.org.
About American General Contractors of Colorado
The AGC of Colorado is Colorado's leading professional association for the state's commercial building industry, representing over 500 firms. AGC/C provides benefits and business resources ranging from: networking opportunities in Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and the Mountain Region. The membership of AGC/C is comprised of general contractors and specialty contractors (both union and non-union shops, public and privately owned; and, from very large to very small), suppliers and professional service providers. Every year, AGC/C members complete over 70% of the commercial building in Colorado.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3242d847-dc20-47f1-b6b2-8ac0c0b117be