Construction recruiting class to continue after strong start

A five-week program to attract young workers to construction careers was so successful that its sponsor plans at least one more session beginning in September.

A dozen young workers their average age was about 20 completed the summer program developed by the Sierra Nevada Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, a group of merit-shop builders.

Eighteen had started.

Nine of the students did so well that they've been offered paid internships with contractors in the region, said Clara Andriola, president of the ABC chapter.

"Kids rise to the expectations you set for them,"Andriola said."The bar was set high.

They met our expectations."

The program, which was free to participants, ran from 4-8 p.m.

four nights a week.

Students completed OSHA and first-aid training, brushed up their math skills and worked with certified teachers in trades such as plumbing and electrical.

They also developed skills they'll need to get and hold a job skills that can be transferred to any career,Andriola said.

An eye-opener for many students, she said,was the career paths available in the construction industry.

They heard, for instance, from a construction executive who rose from a field position and didn't attend college.

ABC already has a waiting list of 10 for the next session of the course scheduled Sept.

5 to Nov.

7.

The organization also hopes to offer a daytime course for students who hold evening jobs.

The organization stays in touch with school counselors and others who recommend potential applicants aged 17 to 22.

The program is funded by a grant from the state's Commission on Construction Education.

That's a program of the Nevada State Contractors Board.

Andriola said ABC's members, like other builders, need more skilled workers to handle the region's booming growth at a time when members of the baby boom generation are preparing to retire in growing numbers.