Florida Apprenticeship Program Boosts Local Workforce

Membership
Published

This post is part of a weekly series focused on Careers in Construction Month.

What is one of the secrets to attracting better trained, higher skilled and happier employees? Enroll them into an apprenticeship program so they can build a career and "earn while they learn." The Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) and its partner Santa Fe College have been training apprentices for nearly three decades, benefiting BANCF members and individuals seeking a fulfilling career.

"A trade is a skill that individuals can have with them forever and is applicable anywhere in the country," said Gina Hill, BANCF's Training Director for Apprenticeship.

BANCF members are invited to opt into the program and agree to sponsor their employee for a low tuition fee per year. Once enrolled in the program, the employee attends classes at the Charles R. Perry Construction Institute at Santa Fe College two nights a week and receives on-the-job training working for their employer. Apprenticeship opportunities are available in carpentry, electrical, HVAC and plumbing. Apprentices make more than $80,000 during their four-year employment in the electrical, heating and air conditioning, or plumbing trades. Earnings can reach $40,000 if enrolled in the two-year carpentry program.

There are more than 200 individuals currently enrolled in the program, and 40 of them are on track to graduate in May 2021. BANCF's graduates often continue their employment with their sponsor, and some eventually start their own business. Hill notes that several graduates are so motivated to inspire others to learn the trades, they become instructors in the program.

To learn more about the program, visit BANCF's website.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Advocacy

Oct 22, 2025

NAHB Recommends Permitting Improvements to EPA and Corps

On Oct. 16, NAHB met with political leadership from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) to discuss the agencies’ regulatory priorities for 2026 and beyond.

Advocacy

Oct 21, 2025

Senate Panel Passes NAHB-Backed Forestry Bill

The Senate, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee today advanced the Fix Our Forest Act, NAHB-supported legislation that will contribute to better forest management practices, help strengthen the nation’s housing supply chain and promote affordable housing opportunities for all Americans.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Oct 20, 2025

Non-Conventional Financing for New Home Sales Loses Ground in 2024

Nationwide, the share of non-conventional financing for new home sales accounted for 31% of the market per NAHB analysis of the 2024 Census Bureau Survey of Construction (SOC) data. This is 1.7 percentage point lower than the 2023 share of 32.4%. As in previous years, conventional financing dominated the market at 69.3% of sales, higher than the 2023 share of 67.6%.

Economics

Oct 17, 2025

Better Growth, Larger Deficits: CBO Fiscal Outlook

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is a key nonpartisan score keeper that measures the effects of policy changes by the Federal Government. With several policy changes since January of this year, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), stricter immigration, and higher tariffs, the CBO updated its economic projections through 2028.

Economics

Oct 16, 2025

Amid Market Challenges, Builder Expectations Rise in October

Even as builders continue to grapple with market and macroeconomic uncertainty, sentiment levels posted a solid gain in October as future sales expectations surpassed the 50-point breakeven mark for the first time since last January.