Iam always inspired by the resilience, innovation and dedication of Nevada’s construction workforce. It is through their ingenuity and investment that businesses and families can call Nevada home. It is by way of their efforts and skill that we may live and work comfortably and safely. Our convenience is heightened with the paving of new roads and freeways, building of major resorts and stadiums, and the establishment of new schools, hospitals, grocery stores, shopping centers and parks.
Whether one is a general contractor overseeing multi-million-dollar projects or a sole proprietor responsible for making repairs to household appliances, every working hand contributes to the greatness of Nevada’s economy, providing a service only a handful in society are able to perform.
The Nevada State Contractors Board understands the importance of increasing Nevada’s construction workforce to meet the demands of a growing society. In 2001, it established the Commission on Construction Education, which awards grants to entities looking to raise awareness and promote careers in construction.
These grants have aided statewide technical trade academies in expanding construction trade programs; provided educational opportunities for students to become engaged with construction-related projects; supported UNLV’s Solar Decathlon team; and allowed industry groups to expand the size and scope of trade-specific training to contractors.
Instilling the importance of skilled labor as a viable career option in today’s youth is vital to the longevity and success of the construction workforce. This past year, the board partnered with the industry and technical trade schools to promote this message and demonstrate how those in construction give back to their communities in powerful, meaningful ways.
Students at the Northwest Career and Technical Academy were acknowledged for building “buddy benches” and donating them to 11 elementary schools to combat bullying. The benches are a visual way for students who feel isolated or lonely to receive invitations from others on the schoolyard to play. Students from Academy for Career Education in Reno were on site to unveil the nearly finished one-story, single-family home they built from the ground up. Exposed electrical, plumbing and framing components allowed the students to proudly describe to onlookers the efforts that went into their craft and the skills they learned.
There is no better way to demonstrate the value of being a member of the construction workforce than to see and hear the excitement in those performing the work, which is why the Contractors Board has made it a strategic priority to evaluate opportunities to enhance and streamline its licensing processes.
Our industry is best served when all parties involved are working together, discussing issues, identifying solutions and being open to change.
Margi Grein is executive officer on the Nevada State Contractors Board.