Haskell has pledged $75,000 to the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s “Together We Build” capital campaign, which aims to fund the renovation and equipping of a dedicated trade education facility in Jacksonville.
NEFBA recently purchased a 43,000-square-foot building to serve as the new home for its apprenticeship program. For years, the association held training sessions at various temporary locations, including local high schools and rental spaces.
The new Workforce Development Center will consolidate operations at a single hub. Plans include 10 classrooms, four specialized construction labs, administrative offices and a 300-seat auditorium. This expansion will allow the program to increase its training capacity and incorporate curricula on emerging industry technologies.
The construction industry has long faced a critical shortage of skilled labor. However, enrollment in NEFBA’s apprenticeship program has expanded nearly 250% over the past decade, driven by a tuition-free “earn-while-you-learn” apprenticeship model, active high school recruitment and accessible pathways for military veterans.
The tuition-free model allows participants to graduate as journeymen with industry credentials and no student debt. Apprentices work full-time with participating employers during the day and attend classes at night. The program currently serves more than 500 apprentices across four primary trades: carpentry, electrical, HVAC and plumbing.
Haskell has partnered with NEFBA since the apprenticeship program began in 1973. The program aligns with Haskell’s Permanent Craft Employee (PCE) initiative, which provides full-time employment and benefits to skilled tradespeople.
Tim Mosley, Haskell’s Director of Self-Performance and a graduate of the NEFBA program, emphasized the need for the new facility to support the region’s future.
“We have seen the results over the years of people who have gone through the program and where they are at today,” Mosley said. “I was an apprentice through the program, and many others who hold good titles here at the company also came through it.”
Haskell’s donation joins contributions from other community partners, including the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund and the City of Jacksonville. The $75,000 pledge secures naming rights for a designated space within the new facility.
The new center is expected to open this year.
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