Through early September, Construction Ready and the Home Builders Institute (HBI) are partnering to offer a pre-apprenticeship training program in Augusta. Through this partnership, Augusta-area residents are participating in a fully funded, eight-week construction education program designed to prepare them for successful careers in the industry. Participants will receive hands-on training, earn credentials, and be connected directly to job placement opportunities upon completion.

There is a high need for skilled workers across Georgia as more workers are retiring than entering the workforce. Closing this “skills gap” and educating more people about careers in the skilled professions is Construction Ready’s primary goal. 

Classes began July 20 and will take place Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Sept. 9. A Hiring Fair takes place Sept. 8 followed by a graduation (September 9 at 10 a.m.) with an announcement of job placements.

• Instructors are working with students providing training and credentialing for careers in construction and the skilled trades.
• For the next few weeks, students will be building a tiny house, putting their carpentry and tool skills to work.

The class is being held at Augusta Technical College, 3200 Augusta Tech Drive. Bldg 700, Room 702 - Augusta, GA 30906. For more information and to register for future classes, applicants should visit https://constructionready.org

“We are excited to partner with the Home Builders Institute to strengthen our efforts in Augusta,” says Construction Ready President and CEO Scott Shelar. “When we hear their success stories and see new graduates entering the construction industry, it confirms we are making a difference for so many Georgians who are looking for a new career.”

“Partnerships like this are critical to building the next generation of skilled workers”, says HBI CEO Ed Brady, “and, more importantly, creating opportunities that can change lives. When we work together to introduce more people to the skilled trades, provide them with hands-on training and industry-recognized credentials, and connect them directly with employers, we’re doing more than filling jobs—we’re giving individuals a pathway to a good-paying career, financial stability and long-term economic mobility. That opportunity can transform not only a student’s future, but the future of their family and their community.”

By the Numbers: Since 2014, the Construction Ready adult education program has trained more than 2,000 workers of all ages across Georgia, Alabama, and Florida for careers in construction. Successes of the program include:

• 97% job placement by end of training
• Average starting salary of $13-19/hour
• 70% of participants employed with the same company one year later