Denver, CO – The Associated General Contractors of Colorado (AGC) joined Lt. Governor Donna Lynne yesterday to launch “Construction Careers Now,” a one-month long construction career orientation opportunity provided at the Emily Griffith Technical College campus in Denver that will help unemployed and underemployed individuals access the many open positions in the construction industry.
With an estimated 30,000 new employees needed in the construction industry in Colorado over the next seven years, this program seeks to quickly add new employees to the Colorado workforce. It is funded by the State of Colorado in the form of a workforce development grant issued to AGC of Colorado.
“Colorado continues to grow and offer a variety of jobs to Coloradoans. Our goal is filling those jobs with qualified, local talent quick enough to keep up with growth. This program puts individuals on a fast-track to both learn a trade and be connected quickly with companies offering well-paying jobs,” said Lt. Governor Donna Lynne.
AGC, Colorado Contractors Association (CCA) and Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC) have created the Construction Careers Now program in conjunction with Emily Griffith Technical College to attract and add new employees to the construction workforce in Colorado. Interested participants in the Construction Careers Now Program will register for enrollment in a four-week module through the BuildColorado.com website at NO COST to participants.
The program consists of a four-week “introduction to 
construction careers” curriculum at the Emily Griffith Trade College. During the 3rd week of each four-week class module students and construction contractor companies will attend a hiring fair and meet numerous “eager to hire” construction contractors with career opportunities available now.
AGC, CCA, HCC and EMTC were awarded a $1.1 million WORK Act Grant in April 2016. The grant provides funding for outreach and recruitment of individuals into the program. AGC, CCA and HCC member firms are funding the tuition costs of those who attend the Construction Careers Now opportunity.
“Thanks to legislators who recognized the need to create a path for those who are seeking lasting careers and improving the construction industry in Colorado, we were able to secure a grant to launch this program this September,” said Michael Gifford, president and CEO of AGC/C. “We need talent now to help our industry, and we want those opportunities to go to our own residents.”
In 2015, many legislators realized that workforce development was a key issue for the future of the Colorado economy and education system, and it was a major bi-partisan theme of the 2015 and 2016 sessions. In 2015 Rep. Williams, Rep. Pabon, Sen. Heath and Sen. Cooke sponsored a bill in partnership with AGC, CCA, CAMPC and the Building Trades Council to get the word out about these excellent opportunities. HB15-1276 (Work Act) was approved by the legislature and provided for $10 million over three years for outreach and recruitment of Coloradans into good paying careers via partnerships with two-year or technical college or apprenticeship programs.
“This program is about building careers and training individuals quickly to benefit from Colorado’s growth. Regardless of what industry you are in, their growth is dependent on the construction industry in one form or another, said Representative Angela Williams. “We want a growing economy to benefit everyone, especially Coloradans seeking new careers.”
In just the last 12 months, Colorado construction employment has risen by 10,500 employees (7.1% growth rate). Construction employment in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has grown by 7,200 employees in the last year, the 5th highest employment growth among the nation’s 358 MSA’s across the country. Construction projects will need 30,000 additional construction employees by 2023, given our strong growth and natural retirements by the baby boomers or silver tsunami, according to the 2015 Construction Industry Economic Study by CSU funded by AGC, CAMPC and NECA.
Courses begin September 12 and are offered at Emily Griffith Technical College in Denver, and they will continue to be offered until early Spring. Individuals can sign up at BuildColorado.com
Photos courtesy of Julie Wanzer, Business Rewritten and Danielle Feroleto, SmallGiants
