By The Home Builders Institute
Home Builders Care, the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, announced the grand opening of the Home Building Academy located at 3100 E Broadway, Ste. 100 in Phoenix. The Academy is a new educational facility for training in skilled trades for residential construction.
At the Academy, students participate in a nine-week rapid worker training, resulting in industry-recognized certificates in either carpentry or electrical. The first four weeks of the training provide basic construction knowledge such as reading a tape measure, using hand and power tools, and safe work practices, including an OSHA 10-hour certificate. The remaining five weeks are trade-specific training.
The Academy is tuition-free for qualified students, and students maintaining satisfactory academic progress will receive a weekly stipend for living expenses. In addition, successful graduates will leave with a set of tools, boots, work clothes and personal protective equipment. Given the severe labor shortage in Arizona and throughout the country, the academy aims to teach residential construction trade skills to qualified applicants seeking a new career path and place them into well-paying jobs.
The Academy is funded primarily by a workforce development grant through Maricopa County and an industry investment through the HBACA. The Academy is also supported by The Home Depot Foundation through the Home Builders Institute.
HBI provides the curriculum, instructors and staff through an operating agreement. The curriculum is designed to transform students with no previous construction experience into trained pre-apprentices in this high demand industry. HBI’s curriculum is developed in conjunction with members of the National Association of Home Builders and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. In addition, students have access to career counseling, job-placement support and networking opportunities with top industry employers through the HBACA’s members.
Over time, the Home Building Academy anticipates adding additional training programs in various residential construction trades. (Source)