Community Link: Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each week on Community Link, Carolene Mays takes a look at an organization or business that is making a positive impact on the community. This week, Mays was joined by Chris Price with the Indiana Constructio n Roundtable Foundation. The Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation is tackling the state’s growing shortage of skilled construction workers by offering hands-on training programs that connect students and adults to high-demand job opportunities. The nonprofit has been serving Hoosiers since 2015. According to Price, it is focused on building pathways to strong, well-paying careers in the construction industry. “We’re seeing a perfect storm for workforce development right now,” he said. “With rapid economic growth, an aging workforce, and a shortage of skilled workers, there’s an urgent need to prepare people for these job openings.” Price says they offer youth-focused and adult-focused programs designed to provide essential experiential learning. For younger participants, the foundation partners with schools across Indiana to offer clubs for fifth- through eighth-graders to get hands-on experience using hand and light power tools. Working alongside high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) students and instructors, they build projects such as birdhouses and park benches, igniting early interest in construction careers. On the adult side, the foundation’s Build Your (BY) Training Program offers hands-on industry skills and safety training for adults 18 and older who want to enter construction but may lack the connections, skills, or confidence. The adult program not only teaches foundational skills but also links trainees to employment opportunities within the industry. It is offered throughout the state in multiple locations. “Our goal is to help adults learn real skills to succeed and to join an industry hungry for workers,” Price said. For more information, visit the foundation’s website, and watch the interview above! ...read more read less