HBA Bridges Gap Between High School and Careers to Address State Workforce Shortage

HBA: Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky

Category: Education

Location: Erlanger, Ky.

Size: 201-600 members

Year: 2025

The Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky (BIANKY) Enzweiler Building Institute's dual construction trades program is designed to combat the skilled workforce shortage by bridging the gap between high school and full-time career pathways. Featuring training credentials in high-demand fields, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC and carpentry, the program allows high school seniors to begin post-secondary trades training before they graduate, accelerating the time it would take for them to become licensed and enter the workforce. Participating students are offered experiences beyond standard classrooms and coursework, including exposure to hands-on training and integration with licensed industry professionals.

Deliberate integration of education systems, industry demand for young workers, public policy and philanthropic investment were all integral to the program's success. The program ensured that scholarship funding was made available for underserved students, making enrollment into the inaugural cohort accessible and allowing for equitable participation by alleviating financial barriers. This initiative served as a cohesive and systemic workforce system to produce measurable outcomes in the building industry.