Community Construction Academies
NCCER’s Community Construction Academies transform lives by providing hands-on training and career pathways in the construction industry to individuals in underserved communities.
New Skills, New Start
Watch to discover the real-world impact of the program on individuals and their community thanks to support from the Lowe’s Foundation.
Building the Workforce
of Tomorrow
Many Americans, especially those in underserved areas, lack access to quality training and career opportunities. Adult education can help close the skills gap and fuel economic growth by equipping people in need with essential skills.
Once trained, these individuals are job-ready and equipped with the skills to immediately contribute—helping to close the construction labor gap. NCCER offers innovative programs that empower adults to gain the skills they need to drive career success and contribute to a more resilient economy.
How the Program Works
Community Construction Academies are an adult-education initiative developed by NCCER with the support of generous donors to provide free construction training and job-placement services in underresourced communities. The program helps individuals facing barriers—such as poverty and homelessness—gain skills and earn credentials that lead to well-paying jobs. In 2025, NCCER’s partnership with the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) expanded these opportunities through their national network of adult education providers.
Each academy delivers fast-track training programs that include hands-on instruction in NCCER’s Core: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills, OSHA 10, and one of four crafts aligned to local workforce needs. Donor support covers critical resources like curriculum, wrap-around services, tools and testing to help individuals earn industry-recognized credentials.
Transforming Lives Through Adult Education
This program has been impact verified by Impact Genome, a standardized, independent registry for verifying social impact. View the full report, including benchmarking data, cost-per-outcome, and efficacy metrics.
Outcomes That Matter
Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant
Explore how the Lowe’s Foundation invested in the future of skilled labor through its partnership with NCCER, empowering the next generation of construction professionals.
Your Contributions in Action
Our 2024 Annual Report shows how donor support fueled NCCER’s mission to expand opportunity through construction education.
Building Futures Through the Community Construction Academies
Discover how support of CCAs changes lives by providing critical training and creating sustainable career opportunities in underserved communities in Alabama and Texas.
Take Action
Help launch careers in construction by providing hands-on trainings that directly meet local community needs. Your donation funds tools, instructor training, and curriculum development.