Contact: Kristi Pronovost
Director of Marketing & Communications
(717) 653-8106 or kristi@abckeystone.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MANHEIM, Pa, April 12. 2021—The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors is committed to shaping an industry that welcomes all people. As part of Second Chance Month, ABC Keystone highlights its programs, partnerships and involvement in educating, upskilling and hiring reentering citizens.
“The Construction industry is unique in that it provides education and career opportunities that can be gained with little to no debt. This is a best-case scenario for reentering citizens as it allows for them to gain in-demand skills quickly which can be put to use immediately. The employment opportunities are numerous in our industry, and these workers have much to contribute,” says ABC Keystone’s president-ceo, G. David Sload.
“Second Chance Month raises awareness around the value that reentering citizens can bring to the construction workforce,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC’s vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “Reentering citizens have paid their debt to society and should be given the opportunity to achieve their newly found career dreams, and ABC Keystone’s inspiring involvement highlights how they work with individuals seeking that second chance to build a bright future for themselves. This year, our industry will need to hire 430,000 more workers than were employed in 2020 to meet the demand for construction services. Reentering citizens can help us bridge the gap, fill the workforce shortage and help bring our economic engine roaring back to life.”
ABC Keystone Chapter is the registered apprenticeship sponsor and partner for Berks Connections/Pretrial Services Rebuilding Reentrants and Reading (R3) located in Reading. R3 offers people with a criminal history the opportunity to acquire skills in the construction trades that lead to gainful employment and access to projects, like the renovation of some of the city’s blighted neighborhoods. Participants benefit from an employment-focused cognitive curriculum and comprehensive case management that includes financial literacy, coaching, job search, placement and retention support.
As part of ABC, the Keystone Chapter is building a workforce that is safe, skilled and productive using innovative and flexible learning models and apprenticeships in more than 50 professions. In 2019 alone, ABC members invested $1.5 billion to provide more than 1.1 million course attendees with craft, leadership and safety education. ABC has 1,400 training locations nationwide where it connects high school students, minorities, reentering citizens, second career seekers, veterans and women with rewarding careers in construction.
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The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) is a construction trade association based in Manheim, Pennsylvania, representing over 500 construction-related firms. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 69 chapters nation-wide help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. Visit us at abckeystone.org.
