DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Kimberly Conney has some new work clothes.
“Feel good?” asked Channel 2’s Berndt Petersen.
“Yes! I am Construction Ready. Oh my God! This is what I want to do! I want to learn more about construction,” Kimberly said.
She did, through the nonprofit Construction Ready program.
On Tuesday, trainees who took a 20-day crash course in Douglas County met face-to-face with some local contractors who are ready to hire.
“I’d rather hire someone who is coming out here with the basic skillset than coming off the streets knowing nothing,” contractor Phillip Rodes Jr. said.
There’s a serious shortage of trained construction workers across Georgia and the whole South.
It’s also a No. 1 cause of building projects being delayed.
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As a growing number of skilled tradespersons retire, training new talent is vital.
The nonprofit is teaching them, graduating them, and helping them find jobs.
“I learned a lot, I’m about to get a job, and will be getting paid,” Miriama Sumbundu said.
She happens to be Kimberly’s daughter. They learned about the construction training through a story that ran earlier this year on Channel 2 Action News.
“I’m elated. I was watching Channel 2 that morning! Yes,” Sumbundu said.
Construction Ready’s Graduation is Friday.
Some of the graduates will be strapping on a tool belt for their first day on the job the following Monday.