Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, CenterState CEO, and other community partners recently announced recruitment is underway for the first class of Syracuse Build’s Pathways to Apprenticeship program.

This comprehensive, paid, 11-week apprenticeship-readiness training program is designed to help the local workforce, particularly women, people of color, and veterans, gain access to the Building Trades’ registered apprenticeship programs and prepare them for the significant number of construction jobs being created by federal, state, and local infrastructure investments, including I-81. CenterState CEO’s Work Train initiative is helping connect resources and partners for the Syracuse Build initiative and the Pathways to Apprenticeship program.

The program has already received more than 400 responses to the initial call for applicants, which will result in a highly competitive pool of potential candidates. This significant level of interest is an indication of the vast number of individuals looking for high-quality opportunities in our community. It also speaks to the effectiveness of the program’s model, which targets both unemployed and underemployed workers to help them access long-term careers. By directly focusing on women, people of color, and veterans — providing paid training and creating clear pathways to family-sustaining jobs — we can empower and include more of the talented individuals in our community who are often disconnected from opportunities.

The applicant-selection process is currently underway to welcome the first cohort in June. While Syracuse Build cannot accept everyone into the first cohort, it is planning for at least two additional cohorts. Also, the Work Train team and partners will mobilize to offer applicants other resources, referrals, and assistance where possible. Furthermore, we will work with partners to make this a model that can be adapted across industries to help get more people into good jobs, to benefit not only the individuals but also strengthen our neighborhoods, economy, and community.

Thank you to all our partners who have enabled the successful launch of this program. We look forward to highlighting more of the program’s work in the months ahead. To learn more about the program or how you can support these efforts, contact Aimee Durfee at adurfee@centerstateceo.com.       

Robert M. Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, the primary economic-development organization for Central New York. This article is drawn and edited from the “CEO Focus” email newsletter that the organization sent to members on May 27.

ABC analysis shows costs up almost 20 percent in the last year

Construction-input prices — the costs of materials and energy sed in building projects — increased 1.3 percent in April from March, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index data by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

But construction-input prices are up 19.7 percent since April 2020, with nonresidential prices climbing 19.2 percent over the last year. 

Softwood-lumber prices skyrocketed 121.1 percent over the past 12 months. Energy costs also experienced significant year-over-year price increases, with the price of crude petroleum rising 245.2 percent, unprocessed energy materials increasing 117.7 percent, and natural gas up 114.6 percent. 

“Nonresidential input prices have surged, and much of that increase has occurred since the start of 2021,” ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said in a release. “While some of this is attributable to so-called base effects — the result of unusually low prices that prevailed a year ago for certain commodities — it has become clear that supply is unable to keep pace with rapid demand growth in many instances, driving prices uncomfortably higher.”

ABC contends there is concern within the construction industry that the soaring prices will lead to an increase in project postponements and construction delays.

“With the global economy steadily reopening, central banks continuing to pump up money supply, governments engaging in deficit spending and supply chain disruptions persisting, contractors can expect significant price pressures for months to come,” Basu said. “While materials prices will capture headlines today, construction labor costs are also rising rapidly, further jeopardizing the recovery of nonresidential construction spending during the months ahead.”

ABC is a Washington, D.C.-based national construction-industry trade association representing more than 21,000 members.