Each October, the home building industry celebrates Careers in Construction Month, a time to recognize the professionals in the field and spotlight opportunities available for the next generation. This is the final story in a weekly series highlighting the month.

Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC) is reshaping how the state’s residential building industry constructs its workforce. By directly connecting high school students with hands-on learning, pre-apprenticeship certifications and industry mentorship, CICC is creating clear, successful pathways into construction careers while addressing Colorado’s skilled labor shortage.

Launched in 2015 by the Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs (CSHBA), the program began in one high school with just 23 students. By 2019, CICC became its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and has since expanded to 91 schools statewide, serving nearly 5,000 students annually. The program’s goal is for at least 20% of participants to enter the construction industry after graduation.

“We are really providing students opportunities to have successful futures,” said Marlo Asher, CICC director of operations. “This program is the opportunity for kids to be truly successful and figure out what they like and don’t like. Now is the perfect time for them to be in that true exploratory phase.”

CICC’s approach blends classroom instruction with real-world experience. Participating schools provide a facility and CTE instructor, while CICC delivers curriculum through the Home Builders Institute (HBI), NAHB’s nonprofit education partner. In addition to supplying and funding the HBI Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) curriculum, CICC offers instructor support and certification costs.

A cornerstone of the program is its team of Career Navigators, professionals who serve as the bridge between students and the industry. Career Navigators visit classrooms monthly to mentor students, help them explore career pathways and directly connect them with employers for internships, apprenticeships and full-time opportunities after graduation.

Through the program, students earn nationally recognized HBI PACT credentials and OSHA-10 safety certifications, equipping them with both trade and jobsite readiness skills. To date, more than 2,238 CICC graduates have entered Colorado’s construction workforce.

The program reaches urban and rural regions alike, including 25 rural schools where access to hands-on CTE programs is often limited. To connect educators and employers to students, CICC partners with CSHBA, the AGC Education Foundation, BUILT NoCO, the Summit County Builders Association and the Housing and Building Association of Western Colorado.

“We believe that relationships matter,” Asher said. “What’s unique to the Careers in Construction program is we’re the conduit between industry and education.”

CICC students gain additional hands-on experience and professional exposure through SkillsUSA Colorado, a state affiliate of the national SkillsUSA program. Every spring, students statewide compete in regional competitions in carpentry, electrical, masonry, cabinetry, plumbing and more, with top performers advancing to the state competition in April.

All students who placed first through third at the six state competition events in 2025 came from CICC-affiliated schools. In total, 11 schools statewide had students place. 

Beyond competition, the program emphasizes career readiness, as students learn how to communicate, work in teams and carry themselves in professional settings to prepare them for life after high school.

“We believe that students deserve choices, and the industry deserves a workforce,” said Sydney White, a CICC career navigator.

For additional resources to introduce local students to residential construction, explore NAHB’s Workforce Development Champions program, the CTE Employer’s Guide and the Ford Next Generation Learning Roadmap.