As employers and associations across the country desperately hope for relief from ongoing labor shortages, Go Build America seeks to serve as a national rallying cry and recruitment platform for America’s construction industry. More than 7 years after the launch of Go Build Alabama, Go Build America expands upon the Alabama, Tennessee and California state programs to provide critical recruitment resources directly to those same employers and associations all across the country – while at the same time offering an all-inclusive national campaign to rebrand and promote the skilled trades.
“Our industry has seen an unprecedented demand for skilled workers following the Great Recession, which has only been compounded by recent natural disasters along gulf coast and out west,” said Bob Woods (CEO/President of Go Build and first Executive Director of Go Build Alabama). “In our discussions all throughout the U.S., workforce groups, training programs and companies continue to call on us to collaborate on working to address this continued crisis. We’ve also realized that at the national level that no marketing campaign of this magnitude is promoting the multitude of construction related career paths; especially as President Trump seeks to strengthen America’s workforce and create 5 million new apprenticeships,” Woods said. “This new initiative will allow organizations large and small to utilize and benefit from our proven outreach strategy and connectivity tools, and bring our entire industry together with one cohesive message: Go Build America.”
A new enhanced website launches today that includes new and improved versions of the highly popular videos, infographics and messaging featured in Go Build state programs. Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO (and Go Build board member) Mike Bellaman adds, “The more stories, the more content [and] the more social media we can get out about our great industry, the better. Go Build will be a great way to make that message more relevant to high school students.” In addition, the site which previously only allowed young people interested in the trades to explore and sign up for more information, has now expanded to offer skilled tradesmen and women opportunities to post resumes and search for job openings throughout the country. Taking the connectivity connection even further, the easily-navigable job board launching this January will allow any company or organization in the U.S. to post job listings free of charge – with exclusive access to the online resume bank offered to Go Build America program partners. “Go Build is the nation’s most comprehensive workforce development initiative,” says Steve Sandherr (CEO, Associated General Contractors of America and Go Build board member).
“To change hearts and minds – and ultimately dispel misperceptions about the construction industry – we must effectively engage, inform and inspire (and never lecture) the next generation,” said Ryan Dwyer (Executive Director, Go Build) “Go Build has always recognized that we must address these perception problems with a comprehensive approach. When it comes to communicating with younger generations, that also means constantly evolving and adapting to new platforms, styles and technologies to ensure we aggressively and effectively convey our message to the right audiences. Many have attempted to replicate our efforts, but this robust multi-platform strategy, combined with an arsenal of metrics-driven marketing tactics and creative assets, are supported by years of best practices and proven analytics. It’s what separates Go Build from a cacophony of local marketing efforts or other for-profit campaigns, and why Go Build truly serves as an industry wide solution to an industry wide problem,” Dwyer said.
Ultimately, Go Build America “aims to succeed where those other initiatives have fallen short…While such plaudits have heralded other industry-wide awareness programs, Go Build boasts something that most of those initiatives lacked: a track record,” as recently reported in ENR. “[Go Build America] will provide yet another channel for Americans to seek out and pursue a career in the industry we love. Our contractors and Iron Workers welcome the next generation to the opportunity and promise of four-year Apprenticeship programs that take safety and skills to the next level. Of course, it goes without saying that the swing between that apprenticeship program where you earn while you learn, and college, is about a $500,000.00,” said Kevin Hilton (CEO, Ironworkers Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT). GoBuildAmerica.com launches today with the endorsement and support of Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, and the Ironworkers Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT), with several additional partners soon to be announced. “We are now able to assist those on the frontline of the America’s labor crisis – and to serve as a nexus between realizing our nation’s workforce goals and a generation of young people entering America’s labor force,” Woods said.
To learn more, visit GoBuildAmerica.com or contact [email protected].
About Go Build: Go Build is a 501(c)(3) workforce development initiative that seeks to address the current skills gap crisis by enhancing the image of the construction industry and informing young people, parents, educators and influencers, about opportunities in the trades. Go Build Alabama was launched in 2010 and has contributed to the addition of more than 120 credentialed training programs and a 24% increase in course enrollments across Alabama. The program has since expanded into Tennessee in 2016, and California in 2017. Launched in December 2017, Go Build America seeks to address continuing local workforce shortages and provide a national rallying cry for our industry, by providing employers and associations proven outreach and recruiting tools targeted at young people and skilled tradespeople. Go Build’s board of directors is represented by Steve Sandherr of the Associated General Contractors of America, Mike Bellman of the Associated Builders and Contractors and Bob Woods (CEO/President).