Washington, D.C., and Annandale, Minn., March 20, 2024 – Building Talent Foundation (BTF), a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing the education, training, and career progression of youth and people from underrepresented groups in the residential construction industry and Malco Tools, Inc., renowned for over 70 years as a leading developer and manufacturer of high-quality specialty hand tools for the HVAC and building construction trades, announce a strategic collaboration to tackle the critical shortage of skilled workers in construction.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry averaged 445,000 job openings per month during the fourth quarter of 2023. Building Talent Foundation and Malco Tools will work together to close this gap by facilitating joint career events to promote careers in construction and connecting job seekers, schools, and employers.
BTF and Malco will also work to attract new talent into the industry, focusing on connecting youth and individuals from underrepresented groups with training and employment opportunities through BTF’s career and jobs platform, JobsToBuild.
“Building Talent Foundation is excited to collaborate with Malco Tools,” said Branka Minic, Chief Executive Officer of BTF. “Together, we will leverage our collective strengths to promote the many career options in construction, address the critical talent shortage in the industry, and positively impact lives through connections to meaningful work.”
“We are thrilled to join forces with Building Talent Foundation,” stated Rich Benninghoff, President and CEO of Malco Tools. “This collaboration aligns with Malco’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and community impact as well. By combining our expertise in solutions development with BTF’s dedication to empowering underrepresented individuals in construction, we are poised to make a lasting impact in the industry.”
BTF and Malco are already planning joint career events in Orlando, Dallas, and San Diego for this spring, where Malco volunteers will engage students of BTF training partners in exploring careers in construction. Young people will have the opportunity to learn about Malco’s corporate culture and core values, see Malco product demonstrations, and receive advice from both BTF and Malco professionals on how to succeed in the workplace.
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About Building Talent Foundation: Building Talent Foundation (BTF) is a national non-profit organization founded by the Leading Builders of America, with a purpose to address the acute and persistent talent shortage across residential construction. Building Talent Foundation’s mission is to advance the education, training, and career progression of young people and people from underrepresented groups, helping them develop into skilled technical workers and business owners in residential construction. For more information, visit www.buildingtf.org and follow Building Talent Foundation on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
About Malco Tools
Malco Tools, Inc., based in Annandale, Minnesota, is one of the nation’s leading solution developers and manufacturers of various high-quality specialty hand tools for the HVAC and building construction trades. Backed by over 70 years of history, these specialized tools are built to last, rigorously tested, and backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Malco is proud to be 100% employee-owned. Malco earned a Manufacturing Excellence Award from Twin Cities Business Magazine in 2022 and was named the 2018 Medium Manufacturer of the Year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. For more information about Malco, visit www.malcotools.com and follow Malco Tools on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).