Pictured, from left, are BAKFC Secretary and State Director Adam Clemens, Rabb Water Systems; IBA CEO Rick Wajda; BAKFC President and State Director David Johnson, Signature Building and Design; BAKFC Director and State Director Julia Moore, First Federal Savings Bank of Rochester; BAKFC and IBA Past President and Senior Life Director Larry Coplen, Coplen Construction; BAKFC Director and IBA State Parliamentarian Frank Rhoades, Cottage Watchman Security Systems; BAKFC Member Jerry Brown, NIPSCO (IBA 2018 Gold Sponsor); and BAKFC Past President and IBA Treasurer Brett Harter, Harter Custom Construction. Not pictured is BAKFC Executive Officer Trisha Steger.

KOSCIUSKO — The Builders Association of Kosciusko – Fulton Counties state officers and directors attended the Indiana Builders Association Housing Summit and Board of Directors and Committee Meetings June 11 and 12, at the new Embassy Suites in Noblesville, where member officers and committees discussed a number of new and continuing objects along with key issues affecting the housing industry.

In an effort to strengthen its protection of housing affordability, the IBA is planning a two-day statewide membership drive toward new member recruitment in addition to former member reinstatement. IBA membership rates plummeted between 2007 to 2012 during the recession due to many industry professionals closing their businesses or cancelled memberships in an attempt to cut overhead costs.

Former BAKFC members and area building industry professionals are asked to join their local association in order to strengthen and reinforce the associations and support the fight against mandatory legislation and other costly factors threatening housing affordability.

HBAs throughout Indiana are also partnering with the Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation, the IBA, and the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis to increase awareness of building/construction industry careers through a statewide program called “Build Your Future Indiana.”

“Build Your Future Indiana” provides Indiana high school and middle school guidance professionals and students with construction industry career information, expected salary ranges, and the pathways to them through postsecondary education. Currently, Indiana has reported an average of over 3,000 annual job openings in construction and related fields. The state projects that by 2024, there will be over 30,000 construction trade job openings to be filled. “Build Your Future Indiana” works to fight the skilled labor shortage by designing student “toolboxes” with information from industry professionals that highlight key aspects and requirements for each trade career path.

Through BYFI, the BAKFC and “Ambassador Volunteers” from eleven additional Indiana HBAs will meet with Indiana school superintendents, guidance coordinators and career technical education coordinators; arranging classroom presentations for students and CTE classes in addition to participating in area trade events and career fairs in an all-out effort to increase awareness. Kosciusko and Fulton County education professionals are encouraged to contact the Builders Association of Kosciusko-Fulton Counties to schedule a BYFI Ambassador meeting or presentation.

Students can explore the multitude of planning, building and finishing phases of construction industry careers at www.buildyourfutureindiana.org and take the Career Assessment Quiz. Local students can obtain applications to student scholarships for industry-related education at www.bakfc.com and are also encouraged to access scholarships on the Indiana Builders Association website at www.buildindiana.org/education/2018 and the National Housing Endowment website at www.nationalhousingendowment.org.