Funding Available to Bring Shop Back to Schools

Workforce Development
Published

The Home Builders Institute continues to expand its trades training programs into secondary schools across the country with generous funding from The Home Depot Foundation and the National Housing Endowment.

Schools to Skills grant funding allows secondary schools to create or enhance a career technical education program using HBI’s nationally recognized, patented Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) curriculum and industry-approved certifications. PACT is designed to be hands-on and competency-based, and aligns with the STEM education model. With a PACT curriculum, students can learn construction trade basics, gain practical skills, and secure industry recognized credentials.

PACT is one of only three national curricula recognized and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and many state departments of education. The curriculum is ideal for middle or high schools in your community that are interested in broadening students’ career horizons and offering affordable alternatives to traditional college paths.

Share the School to Skills grant information with your local school district or high school and encourage them to apply. The application process is easy and does not require a grant writer or consultant to complete.

Applications are open, and the deadline to apply is Dec. 15. For questions about the grant or application process, contact [email protected].

Subscribe to NAHBNow

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

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Trends

Jan 21, 2026

Single-Family Home Size Continues to Decline

The market could see a leveling off of home size trends in 2026 as mortgage interest rates approach 6% on a sustained basis.

Workforce Development

Jan 20, 2026

Plan Early for Summer Internship Season with NAHB Resources

The most effective internship programs don’t come together at the last minute. To help, NAHB offers the Internship Program Development Guide and Appendices to the Internship Program Development Guide.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jan 21, 2026

Private Residential Construction Spending Edges Higher in October on Home Improvements

Private residential construction spending was up 1.3% in October, rebounding from a 1.4% decline in September 2025. This modest gain was primarily driven by increased spending on home improvements.

Economics

Jan 21, 2026

Single-Family Permits Cooled in the Fall

In October, single-family building permits weakened, reflecting continued caution among builders amid affordability constraints and financing challenges. In contrast, multifamily permit activity remained steady and continued to perform relatively well.

Economics

Jan 20, 2026

New Single-Family Home Size Trends: Third Quarter 2025

New single-family home size has been generally falling since 2015 as a response to declining affordability conditions. An exception occurred when new home size increased in 2021 as interest rates reached historic lows. However, as interest rates increased in 2022 and 2023, and housing affordability worsened, the demand for home size has trended lower.