Alabama Home Builders Foundation Prepares Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Careers

For three decades, the Alabama Home Builders Foundation (AHBF) has guided high school students and adults statewide toward careers in residential construction.

Founded in 1995 as the charitable arm of the Home Builders Association of Alabama (HBAA), AHBF promotes the trades through scholarships, hands-on training programs and outreach that connects students with industry professionals. By exposing students early to opportunities in the industry, it develops a prepared workforce for the future.

“It’s really a full-circle moment,” said AHBF Executive Director Kory Boling. “When I graduated high school, I received a scholarship, and it made a huge impact on what I could do in school. I know what it’s like to be a student and need help pursuing your dream because I was one of them. Now, it’s rewarding to see the impact it has on the students and instructors.”

Scholarships are a cornerstone of AHBF’s mission. Each year, AHBF awards scholarships to students pursuing education in the residential construction trades, primarily in trade school programs like HVAC, plumbing and electrical work. In 2024, the foundation donated $52,000 to 70 students statewide. Since 1997, AHBF has awarded nearly $1 million in scholarships to help students pursue career and technical education opportunities in Alabama.

“The primary role of the Alabama Home Builders Foundation is to promote the trades,” Boling said. “Our goal is to encourage individuals to go into residential construction.”

Beyond scholarships, AHBF provides hands-on experience through free training programs offered across the state. The Basic Residential Carpentry Certificate Course, an eight-week night class for adults taught by NCCER-certified instructors, teaches basic construction skills to help individuals enter the home building industry. Boling said it's a carpentry course but many of the skills taught are transferable to other trades that students may be interested in. AHBF covers all program costs, from building materials to instructor salaries.

The Plumbing & Pipefitting Program is a two-year high school program that AHBF developed in 2015 with the state’s plumbing board. It teaches the fundamentals of plumbing and pipefitting, with students completing enough hours by the end of it to qualify for their Plumbers Apprentice card. There are about 200 students enrolled in the program annually.

“The reason we started this program was that there’s an obvious need for workers,” Boling said. “We thought this would be the best step to get students the training they need.”

AHBF’s support for students, instructors and training programs continues to expand opportunities. Last year, the foundation donated $20,000 to trade schools statewide to cover materials, travel costs and other program needs. Schools apply directly to AHBF for support, and Boling said it’s streamlined how to provide the resources to meet local needs.

Additionally, AHBF has been involved with Alabama SkillsUSA for more than 20 years. As a sponsor for the program’s carpentry competitions, the foundation provides building materials for events and coordinates judges. Boling serves as the contest chair for the carpentry program and attends all district and state competitions, while an HBAA member chairs the plumbing program.

“Whether it’s with community colleges or trades programs, we encourage the locals to get involved with programs. Just get involved,” Boling said. “Everyone here needs workers, and you have a potential pipeline of workers in your backyard.”