Associate General Contractors urge funded pathway from CTEs to construction careers; committee discusses $1.5M annual proposal

Sarah Yearhoff, director of advocacy and communications for the Associated General Contractors of Vermont, and Ben Osha, director of workforce and training for AGC Vermont, told the Senate committee they want state support to strengthen pathways from high‑school career and technical education (CTE) programs into construction careers.

Why it matters: AGC leaders said Vermont faces a shortage of construction workers and that even when CTE students complete training and certifications, many do not continue into long‑term construction careers because they perceive uncertain career ladders or see other occupations with clearer progression. AGC urged funding that would boost employer exposure, internships and coordinated pathways so CTE students see construction as a viable long‑term option.

Program and training capacity: AGC described a substantial existing training infrastructure (OSHA 10, OSHA 30, safety and job‑specific certifications) and said the AGC training facility is fully booked through July. Ben Osha said AGC trains about 3,000 people a year at its center and also provides mobile and on‑site training for employers. AGC asked the committee to fund a program that would more actively connect CTE students to employers and support regional placements and internships.

Funding discussed: Committee members and AGC speakers discussed an appropriation in the housing bill. Senators referenced a proposal to allocate $1.5 million per year, spread over three years, to support the AGC‑led pathway (committee discussion described moving a longer $4.48 million line item down to $1.5 million for the year). AGC leaders described the request as new funding to expand outreach to students who are not already covered by employer‑sponsored training; one senator asked whether the House had funded $440,000 for a related item, and AGC stated the proposal under discussion would be a new program. Committee members asked for more detail on sustainability and whether funds would go to CTEs directly or to AGC as a bridge to employers.

Why some senators pressed for caution: Senators asked for clarity about existing funding streams, earlier investments in CTEs, and how state property‑transfer‑tax municipal planning and other appropriations intersect with any new request. Committee leaders signaled they would propose a smaller, multiyear commitment to pilot and scale employer‑embedded pathways and emphasized aligning funds with CTEs and VTC/CCV instruction where appropriate.

Ending: AGC said the core priority is employer exposure and internships before graduation; senators indicated willingness to fund pilot efforts but asked AGC to provide a more detailed plan for metrics, sustainability, and links to existing CTE and state investments.