HBI's "Building Today's Workforce for Tomorrow" project was funded by a grant under the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

The $4.2 million grant funds funds local and state Home Builder Associations (HBAs) in ten states to develop partnerships with community colleges, k-12 school districts, workforce investment boards, Job Corps centers and area employers.

The goal of the grant is to recruit 2,500 people into the residential construction industry in the fields of carpentry, electricity, HVAC and plumbing at the ten selected sites. In an effort to increase skilled trades’ recruitment, HBAs are partnering with community colleges to develop an Associate degree in Applied Science or its equivalent, craft articulation agreements between high school programs, pre-apprenticeship programs, apprenticeship programs and community colleges, and establish training models that can be replicated around the country.

In April 2005, the initial five sites were selected and programs established in Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, South Carolina and Virginia. In December 2005, Arizona, California, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania became the final five states.

Building Partners Grant Newsletter 1st and 2nd Editions

Click here to read the first edition of the Building Partners Newsletter  highlighting five of the "Building Today's Workforce for Tomorrow" grant sites.

Click here to read the second edition of the Building Partners Newsletter  with a complete recap of each of the ten grant sites.

Internship Manuals

California - North State Building Industry Association Guide to Working With 16 & 17 Year Old Youth in the Construction Industry 

Idaho - Blaine County School District Table of Contents, Internship Handbook, Appendix 

Articulation Agreements
HBI facilitated the drafting of Articulation Agreements between school districts, apprenticeship and community colleges to create a residential construction career continuum from high school to apprenticeship and through post-secondary education.  As part of the agreement, students who successfully complete the program receive an Associate's Degree or equivalent from the partnering institution. 

Click here to view the grant's Articulation Agreements page.

Community College Requirements
Partnering Community Colleges in the Building Today's Workforce for Tomorrow grant publish the course requirements needed to earn an Associate's Degree or equivalent, and/or certificate from their institution.

Click here to view the grant's community college requirements page.

Career Awareness Activities
The grant curriculum requires that students, as part of their training, participate in career awareness activities. Such activities include visits to construction sites and participating in community service projects.

Click here to view the grant's Career Awareness page.

For more information on HBI’s DOL Grant and its recipients please email John Shortt, jshortt@hbi.org or call him at 800-795-7955 ext. 8924.