An innovative Huntsville program designed to teach basics in home building construction has received a national award less than a year after the academy opened.

The North Alabama Home Building Academy has been selected as the recipient of Best Workforce Development Implemented from the National Association of Home Builders.

The program started in January and has graduated about 60 students so far. The academy said more than 70 percent of those students are employed in construction jobs with starting wages up to $16 per hour.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized for all of the hard work and dedication that has gone into this program,” Barry Oxley, executive director of the academy, said in the announcement. “This project started as an idea over a year and a half ago and there have been a lot of long days and late nights to get it to where we are today. We’re extremely proud of our program, but even more so of our students.”

The concept began with the Huntsville Madison County Builders Association seeking to address a lack of trade jobs in the Rocket City and to meet the growing demand for home construction in the region.

The academy, a non-profit educational organization, offers free hands-on training to anyone interested in working in the residential construction field. Classes are available on a four-week or eight-week schedule.

More information is available at the academy website: GoBuildYourFuture.com.

“The demand for construction workers isn’t going anywhere” Oxley said in the announcement. “If you’re willing to work hard and build on your craft, there’s no limit on where this career path can take you.”

Source: New Huntsville Home Builders Academy Wins National Award AL.com (October 13, 2020) Paul Gattis