The Home Builders Institute announced the official opening of its new Orlando-based facility for training people for jobs in construction. The BuildStrong Academy of Orlando, funded by The Home Depot Foundation and other partners, will train and place thousands of area students who want to pursue careers in the skilled trades for the building industry.
The program, free to trainees, is expected to serve approximately 500 new trainees by year-end 2022. According to the HBI, 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,” Ed Brady, HBI president and CEO, said in a news release. “Students at the BuildStrong Academy of Orlando will be exposed to the full spectrum of their opportunities in the construction trades.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, every month the construction industry has been short approximately 300,000 to 400,000 skilled workers. Despite this, only a small percentage of young adults are pursuing careers in construction.
“We’re excited to launch this academy program in Orlando and bring career opportunities to the area in partnership with HBI,” Shannon Gerber, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation, said. “This program helps further our goal of supporting the next generation of tradespeople while diversifying the industry.”
In addition to The Home Depot Foundation, the BuildStrong Academy of Orlando is funded by the Charles Koch Institute, West Fraser, and CareerSource Central Florida.
