Wisconsin Builders Break Ground on Workforce Center

Membership
Published

On July 13, the Madison Area Builders Association (MABA) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new facility to train the next generation of construction industry professionals. NAHB CEO Jerry Howard, Boys and Girls Club of Dane County (BGCDC) First Chair Dr. Leslie Petty and other community leaders took part in the event.

Through a partnership with BGCDC, the new McKenzie Regional Workforce Center will serve as a skilled trades learning hub for local students.

MABA member John McKenzie spearheaded the development of the center. He purchased and donated the building, which will also serve as the future home of MABA’s offices.

“These are great jobs and they’re satisfying jobs but they’re not being advocated for — they’re not being taught in schools,” said McKenzie during the ceremony. “The industry is primarily a bunch of old white men and they’re aging out…we need more women in the workforce, we need more people of color in the workforce.”

Like many areas across the country, Wisconsin is facing a critical shortage of skilled construction workers, says Chad Lawler, executive director of MABA. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, framing crews and welding classes will be offered at the new training center. The facility will reach up to 3,000 students who currently participate with BGCDC through after-school and weekend programs.

Elementary school students will have the opportunity to take introductory classes and middle schoolers will learn about the trades at an intermediate level. Students ages 16 and older will be invited to participate in hands-on experiences with comprehensive instruction.

“The ultimate goal is not just to introduce the students into the trades but to also teach them leadership and entrepreneur skills, as well as how to run a business,” said Lawler.

The workforce center is expected to welcome students in the fall of 2022.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Business Management

Apr 20, 2026

More Young Adults Interested in the Construction Trades, but Challenges Persist

A new study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals that more young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 are interested in the construction trades but more work needs to be done to educate the public that there are increasing opportunities for rewarding, lucrative careers in the skilled trades.

Construction Statistics

Apr 17, 2026

Single-Family Permits Decline Sharply to Start 2026

Residential construction activity began 2026 on a mixed note, with single-family permitting weakening significantly while multifamily activity remained relatively stable.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Apr 20, 2026

Construction Workforce Shifts: Fewer Tradesmen, More White-Collar Jobs

The long-running shift in the construction labor force away from construction trades and toward management, business, and technical roles is ongoing and gaining momentum, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest 2024 data from the American Community Survey (ACS).

Economics

Apr 17, 2026

Count of Second Homes Declines in 2024

In 2024, the number of second homes in the U.S. was 6.2 million, accounting for 4.3% of the nation’s housing stock, according to NAHB estimates. This reflects a modest decline from 2022, when the number reached 6.5 million. This decline suggests some cooling following the pandemic-era surge in second home demand.

Economics

Apr 16, 2026

Young Adults Report More Interest in the Construction Trades: 2026 Survey

NAHB estimates the U.S. has a structural housing deficit of 1.2 million units. Among the myriad of headwinds home builders face trying to close that gap is the industry’s chronic shortage of workers in the construction trades.