Eight hundred students will have a hands-on experience at JetBlue Park Thursday as they experience different construction careers available in the area.<\/p>\n
Now in its fifth year, high school students from Southwest Florida high schools will participate in Build My Future Lee County.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are happy this is our second year back,\u201d Lee BIA Executive Vice President Phillip Ford said about having to take a two-year break. \u201cWe are excited to keep rolling on, and it is our largest so far.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event is presented by Fallsafe Walls and Ceilings and Wright Construction Group and hosted in partnership with the Lee County School District and the American Subcontractors Association of Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n
Ford said he learned about the event while attending a breakout session where people share ideas during a conference. This is where he heard a woman explain the Build My Future event she started in Springfield, Missouri. The idea fell in line with what he wanted to do in this area \u2013 enhance participation with the school district and grow curriculum and programs to get kids out in the field and working. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw this as a way to enhance this effort. If we can introduce them to construction at Build My Future, let\u2019s work on making sure the school district has programs and classes in place for training,\u201d Ford said, adding they can then further their education at a technical college, or college, or go straight into the field.<\/p>\n
Ford said the woman who started the event has allowed anybody in the national federation to use it and grow it locally in their community. He said they were the first to start Build My Future in Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was fantastic she was willing to share it,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n
Now there are Build My Future programs all over the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is working. To see it is actually helping \u2013 kids are getting hired. They are making contacts. That is what it is all about,\u201d Ford said. \u201cIt is probably one of the best things I have done. \u201cWe just want to get them into careers \u2013 there is opportunity for you, and you can make a very good living.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
The event in Lee County has grown from 400 students to 800 students, which now includes students from Hendry County for the second year.<\/p>\n
The membership of Lee BIA is primarily Lee County, but their territory covers both Hendry County and Glades County, as well. When a former plumbing teacher left South Fort Myers High School and went to the Hendry County School District, the high school attendees expanded to another county.<\/p>\n
On Thursday students will begin to arrive at 9 a.m. in different phases, providing them several hours to walk around and converse with vendors, while also enjoying lunch. The event ends at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
In addition to Lee BIA industry partners, they will also have plumbing and electrical booths, as well as Lee County bringing their permitting department and the Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t want to have it where you just walk around. The idea is they want to get their hands dirty,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n
Some of the opportunities include putting scaffolding up, hanging sheet rock and stucco, as well as how to lay block and weld.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have 40 companies participating this year,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said the kids have been amazing \u2013 they are engaged, walking around talking to vendors and getting their hands dirty.<\/p>\n