The Home Depot Foundation’s nonprofit partner, The Home Builders Institute (HBI), has announced the official opening of its new Orlando-based facility for training people for jobs in construction. The BuildStrong Academy of Orlando will train and place thousands of area students who want to pursue careers in the skilled trades for the building industry.
Funded by The Home Depot Foundation and other partners, the program will be free to trainees. The center is expected to serve approximately 500 new trainees by year-end 2022, and the curriculum guides participants through a step-by-step process to hone their trade skills.
“As openings in construction jobs increase and people are rethinking their careers, the times demand that we take an inventive approach to creating the skilled workers so badly needed in the building industry,” says Ed Brady, HBI president and CEO. “Students at the BuildStrong Academy of Orlando will be exposed to the full spectrum of their opportunities in the construction trades.”
The effort comes at a critical time. Every month this year, the construction industry has been short approximately 300,000 to 400,000 skilled workers, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Yet only a small percentage of young adults are pursuing careers in construction, Brady explains.
“We’re excited to launch this academy program in Orlando and bring career opportunities to the area in partnership with HBI,” says Shannon Gerber, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “This program helps further our goal of supporting the next generation of tradespeople while diversifying the industry.”
For more information on the BuildStrong Academy of Orlando and how to enroll, click here.
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