At an awards ceremony in Washington, DC, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA) awarded its national Workforce Development Award to Chattanooga’s AGC East Tennessee chapter for its efforts in launching the Construction Career Center (CCC), a vocational school and job placement center for the construction trades. The AGC Workforce Development Award recognizes extraordinary, exemplary, and innovative training and education in the construction industry.
“The collaboration between industry, education and government to make this project happen is one of the most impressive initiatives undertaken by one of our chapters,” said Steve Sandherr, CEO of AGCA.
The labor crisis in construction has catapulted workforce development as the most pressing priority for the construction industry. “The construction companies in AGC East Tennessee built an ambitious strategy to improve the quality and quantity of employment-ready candidates in our pipeline,” said Leslie Gower, CEO of AGC East Tennessee. “Our partners took our vision to the next level by bringing in new ideas and supplementing our resources. We’re bringing this award back to all of our AGC members and partners in Chattanooga.”
The $10 million, 30,000-sf Construction Career Center opened in October 2022 for 11th and 12th grade students through Hamilton County Schools, and for adult learners through the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). AGC East Tennessee’s Workforce Director, works with eligible graduating students on securing employment with a goal of 100% placement. The CCC also offers continuing education courses for professionals in the construction industry in partnership with AGC University, AGC of East Tennessee’s professional development program.
Programming partners include Hamilton County Schools, Tennessee College for Applied Technology at Chattanooga State Community College, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, the Chattanooga Chamber, and the state of Tennessee.
