Grant to HBI Addresses Construction Labor Shortage
 The Home Builders Institute (HBI), the workforce development arm of NAHB, has received a two-year $75,000 grant from the National Housing Endowment to support the creation of a Career Services Communications Package, which will encourage students to pursue careers in construction at a time when the industry is experiencing an annual shortfall of 60,000-80,000 workers.
The educational initiative will be used to help improve the industry’s image and provide young people, parents and school counselors with a better understanding of viable career options in home building. The package will showcase housing-related careers ranging from accounting to zoning and will illustrate how various talents, skills and interests can be matched to specific job opportunities. Information on possible career paths and earnings will also be included. Materials will be distributed to junior high and high schools, community colleges, state career and technical education directors, Job Corps Centers and minority-focused organizations such as historically black colleges and universities and members of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. The educational campaign will also be accompanied by public service announcements in major markets across the country to broaden the reach of this important message. The materials are also geared to enabling home builders associations and their members to engage students during career-day activities, to connect with prospective employees, to reach diverse populations and to broaden the base of individuals who are well-informed about the industry. For more information on the Career Services Communications Package, e-mail Maria McIntyre at HBI, or call her at 800-795-7955 x8912. | 
