A number of statewide groups related to the construction industry have partnered to create the Alabama Construction Workforce Alliance (ACWA) which aims to train employees in the construction industry which often experiences a scarcity of certified, skilled labor.
The inaugural partners in the alliance are the Alabama Associated General Contractors, the Alabama Roadbuilders Association, the Alabama Workforce Council, the Alabama Construction Research Institute and Auburn University.
“ACWA was developed as a response to concerns by the Alabama construction industry about the serious shortage of skilled labor and the need for improvements to the current construction workforce talent pipeline,” said Jorge Rueda, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Auburn University, in a release.
Rueda added, “ACWA is poised to integrate recruitment, retention and training efforts into an overall strategic plan tearing down the traditional workforce development silos.”
Members of the ACWA have pledged to partner with the already existing workforce development agencies and programs around the state.
“Coming from the highway construction and roadbuilding business, I am well aware of the incredible need for highly-skilled workers in this sector,” stated Alabama Workforce Council Chairman Tim McCartney, formerly of McCartney Construction.
ACWA will be receiving funds from the $17.8 million grant Alabama’s workforce development efforts received as part of a CARES Act program.
“The collaboration that has already been established and future plans put forth by ACWA is exactly what we need in this moment. This aligns perfectly with Governor Ivey’s attainment goal of adding 500,000 credentialed workers to the workforce by 2025 and our overall workforce development credentialing pipeline efforts,” McCartney advised.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
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