HBI's Schools to Skills Grant Application Now Open

Workforce Development
Published

Attracting new talent to the trades continues to challenge the residential construction industry. To help boost the amount of U.S. secondary schools with a skilled trades curriculum, HBI is once again offering its Schools to Skills Grant. The grant provides schools with the resources to implement HBI’s Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) curriculum — which removes financial barriers to making high-quality trades education accessible to more students across the country — at no cost for two years.

HBI’s PACT curriculum is a pre-apprenticeship program that equips students with the skills they need for careers in construction trades. The grant covers:

  • Curriculum materials
  • Educator training
  • Student assessments
  • Ongoing support for successful implementation

HBI’s PACT curriculum is one of only three national programs recognized and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and many state education departments. In addition, PACT helps students gain valuable skills and connections to the local building industry, with support from NAHB and its local and state associations.

All HBAs and members who work with schools should encourage administrators to apply for the Schools to Skills Grant. The grant is open exclusively to secondary schools and districts looking to enhance their construction trades programs with HBI’s PACT curriculum.

Applications are open. The deadline to apply is Dec. 20, 2024, at 11:59 p m ET. Please contact HBI at [email protected] for more information about the grant.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

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

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Advocacy
Oct 02, 2026
Stay on Message: Access NAHBs Latest Housing Talking Points

The monthly update provides talking points to help members stay informed with clear and consistent messages on issues affecting the residential construction industry.

Fall Leadership Meeting
Oct 02, 2026
Watch Livestreams of Key Fall Leadership Meetings

NAHB leadership will gather Oct. 6-8 for the 2026 Fall Leadership Meeting in Detroit. Members and HBA staff not in attendance can view livestreams of the key meetings.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics
Oct 02, 2026
U.S. Economy Adds 29,000 Jobs in September as Prior Months Are Revised Down

The U.S. labor market cooled in September, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing by just 29,000 as downward revisions erased most of August’s previously reported strength. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, as both employment and the labor force continued to grow.

Economics
Oct 01, 2026
Private Residential Construction Spending Posts Broad-Based Gains in August

Private residential construction spending rose in August 2026 following a series of declines during the second quarter of the year. According to the latest construction spending data from the U.S. Census Bureau, private residential construction spending came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $882.3 billion in August, up 1.1% from July but down 4.8% from a year ago.

Economics
Oct 01, 2026
AI Exposure Remains Relatively Low Across Most Construction Occupations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing how work gets done, but its impact varies considerably across occupations. For most construction occupations, near-term exposure to AI remains relatively low.