When we say we’re committed to the community, this is what we mean.
Last week, a group of local builders gathered to kick off something exciting: the revival of the Residential Construction Program at Bellingham Technical College. It was an energizing room full of people who care deeply about the trades, about this region, and about the next generation of workers entering the field.
A huge thank you to Sean of A1 Builders and our very own General Manager, Kurt, for sparking this vision, and to everyone who showed up to learn how to help make it a reality.
Here’s why it matters: Nearly 20% of the regional construction workforce is 55 or older. The need for job-ready trades professionals has never been greater, and the pipeline to replace that experience doesn’t build itself. Every week, we get applicants interested in joining our crew, but are lacking jobsite experience. This is a great problem to have! And we’re not alone. Other small builders are in the same boat. This new Carpentry Fundamentals program, developed through BTC’s Continuing Education department in direct partnership with local residential builders, is designed to change that.
The curriculum will be shaped around real hiring needs: tool operation, site safety, material handling, framing basics, trim work, and job-site workflow. The goal is simple: graduates who can contribute from day one, setting themselves and their new employer up for success.
Sean, now an owner at A1 Builders, completed the previous program at BTC, and his story is inspiring! Sean and Kurt are key players in making this program happen. True Bearing Built, Instinct Builders, the BIAWC, and Ethos West have rounded out the team. BTC is leaning on this group of community builders to help shape what the program actually looks like.
The program is still in its funding phase but hopes to welcome the first cohort of students this fall. To do that, BTC needs to raise $25,000 for tools, safety gear, equipment, and materials. These investments will remove barriers for learners and strengthen this community’s workforce for everyone.
If you have questions about the program or want to get involved, get in touch! Want to support? Visit btc.edu/cce to find out how you can get involved.