By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Staff Reporter

COLUMBIANA – The Alabama Home Builders Foundation (AHBF) has partnered with the Shelby County College and Career Center to offer a basic residential carpentry course to adults in the area.

The class will teach the basics of residential carpentry such as safety, construction layout, reading blueprints, framing, window and door installation, siding and exterior trim.

The AHBF gives out scholarships to students who are interested in pursuing careers in their residential community and promote the future of Alabama housing by using the program to help educate people.

“With the housing market on the upswing and the construction workforce aging, there’s an ever-increasing need for qualified, skilled tradespeople entering the home building industry,” said Home Builders Association of Alabama President Todd Slyman.

The average age of a person in skilled trades is 50 and for every four builders that leave the industry only one comes in.

“The building industry needs more skilled workers, it’s really been a depression for this industry so we need more people that want to come in and work,” said Foundation Director Artemis Moore.

The program is open to both men and women 18-years-of-age and older, and there is no maximum age limit for anyone interested in participating.

“The Alabama Home Builders Foundation is excited to partner with trade schools around the state to help fill that gap through education initiatives such as our carpentry program,” Slyman said. “Students who complete the program will gain valuable skills that will prepare them for entering the building workforce, and our industry gains more skilled carpenters, a trade which is always in demand.”

The Shelby County College and Career Center is one of three locations where the class will be taught. The other two locations are in Limestone County and North Baldwin County.

During the class students involved will spend half of their time learning in a classroom and the other half building structures in a workshop. Home Builders has partnered with Columbiana business, Browns Lumber & Building Supply Inc., who will provide them with all necessary lumber for the class, at a discounted price.

“This class isn’t for someone that wants to remodel their kitchen, but instead for people that want a career in carpentry and don’t have the resources or time to do what it takes to learn about the industry,” Moore said.

The class starts Sept. 27 and meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6-8 p.m. through Nov. 15. Most importantly it is free, making this class perfect for people with limited resources and time constraints.

All instructors teaching the courses are NCCER certified, which ensures students coming through the program are all taught the same curriculum. Every student that completes the course will receive a certificate of completion from the Home Builders Association of Alabama.

“It’s a great way to network and meet people in this career field, because Home Builders tends to take note of people that come through the program, which gives them an edge in a future career,” Moore said. “We keep a roster of who goes through the program and keep in touch with them.”

If you are interested in joining the construction or carpentry field, this is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door and build your career, she said.

To register, contact Artemis Moore at 1-800-745-4222 or email artemismoore@hbaa.org. Registration is open until Sept. 15 and limited spots remain so make sure to register soon.