It’s no secret that construction has struggled with labor shortages in recent years. The Association of General Contractors (AGC) reports nearly 80% of firms have a hard time finding workers. The organization’s CEO, Jeffrey Shoaf, said back in February, “The only way firms will be able to keep pace with strong demand for construction is if there are enough people available to build.”
It appears the New York City suburb of New Rochelle has found a unique way to address this need: Train your own residents from the ground up.
The city is in the midst of an “unprecedented development boom,” adding housing at more than double the rate of the U.S. In response to this growth, city leadership announced a new program called New Rochelle Forward.
Eleven New Rochelle Forward participants pose in front of a framing project. IMAGE: New Rochelle, Soulful Synergy
The program offers city residents aged 18 and older six weeks of hands-on construction industry training, certification courses, and job placement services, all centered within a dedicated development facility.
New Rochelle Forward is run by Soulful Synergy, a consulting agency founded by two local residents that already offers construction education programs in city schools.
According to the Journal News, nearly 100 New Rochellians have completed the New Rochelle Forward programming, with more than 80% of participants coming from communities of color.
That 80% is important to Soulful Synergy. Their website states, “We’re building a bridge between underserved communities and high quality careers.”
As New Rochelle continues to grow, including a complete transformation along its waterfront, the city is banking on their unique program to provide opportunities (and housing) for all.
While not every community has a program like New Rochelle, there are other ways to help close the construction labor gap. ConstructConnect has collected these strategies in a free, interactive guide, “Attracting, Hiring, and Retaining Construction Professionals.”
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