Public Workforce System Rulemaking Addressed in Comments
As part of a coalition, ABC submitted comments June 15 to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) on proposed rules for the implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). ABC and the coalition offered their input on areas where the public workforce system under WIOA can be better […]
School Construction Brings Students Closer to Careers
Building a school renovation project during the teaching year can be a logistical nightmare for educators, students and contractors. At one project in Manchester, Massachusetts, school administrators at the Brookwood School and a local construction firm created an innovative learning environment that exposed students to careers in construction. Because they were able to be in the school […]
Why a Career in Construction is Worth the Hard Work You Put In
Many construction jobs vary in the type of skills required and type of work you do, but one common factor that goes into being successful in construction is the hard work it takes to complete the job. A career in construction can be challenging, but in the end you get to stand back and look at […]
Continuing Your Education with ABC Craft Training
A career in construction offers a lot of different things to different people—financial stability, a chance to travel, challenging work—but for those who commit to their training, they’re also getting a chance to continue their education and expand their knowledge. Finding the right training program can open up opportunities that might have seemed unreachable before, […]
Greater Michigan Construction Academy Receives The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation Grant
The Greater Michigan Construction Academy (GMCA) is excited to announce it is the recipient of a $317,000 grant to construct a welding lab within the GMCA Midland Training Center to support Midland County high school students. With the demand for quality, certified welders increasing not only in Michigan but across the United States, the need […]
[Video] Relive the National Craft Championship Experience
During the National Craft Championships March 3-6, we got to see some of the top craft trainees and apprentices in the country compete in their craft and show off their skills, hard work, and passion for their career. The excitement of the event radiates throughout convention center when you walk onto the exhibit hall floor […]
Construction Trades Programs Growing at Community Colleges
It’s no secret that there are huge workforce skill shortages in the construction industry. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the US Gulf Coast states, where petrochemical companies are investing billions of dollars in new construction. Before these massive chemical manufacturing plans and refineries can be put in place, the local workforce will need […]
Meet Holley Thomas: Gold Medal Winner, Mentor and Craft Professional of the Year
I had the opportunity to attend the National Craft Championships for Associated Builders and Contractors in Ft Lauderdale last week. There were close to 200 craft competitors in addition to a competition for Craft Instructor of the Year and Craft Professional of the Year. But the highlight of my week was watching the Craft Professional […]
Construction Skill Shortages Growing in Florida
A recent article on the Florida construction economy highlights the concerns that local industry leaders have about the availability of skilled craft professionals. Not only are Florida contractors feeling the ripple effect from the petrochemical construction markets in other states, surging growth in local markets is expected to create additional demands for skilled craft labor. ABC […]
Louisiana Course Choice Wins Praise for ABC Training Partnership
As we often preach around these parts, traditional classroom learning isn’t for everyone. Many students who fall behind as they sit through the standard college-prep curriculum, excel when they’re put in a hands-on learning environment focused on career ready skills training. This is certainly the case for one student in Louisiana who, thanks to the […]
