Plugged In
Georgia Power partners with state on Go Build Georgia
Gov. Nathan Deal introduced the new initiative, Go Build Georgia, last week to a lobby full of students, teachers and businesspeople at the state Capitol.
The goal of the program is to create awareness and educate young people and others about careers in construction trades, as well as identify the path of education and training opportunities available to pursue high-paying construction craft jobs that require no college degree. The average skilled labor salary pays 27 percent more than the average salary in Georgia.
Deal said over the next year, 16,500 projected jobs will become available in industries that rely on skilled labor, such as pipe fitters, plumbers, electricians and boiler makers. This program will assist in getting Georgians the skills they need to fill employment opportunities.
Georgia Power President and CEO Paul Bowers, who spoke at the kick-off, said the availability of skilled labor is among the top reasons companies choose a particular location. Companies evaluating Georgia want to know a quality workforce is here now and will be available into the future.
“Supporting Go Build Georgia is a natural fit for Georgia Power,” Bowers said. “Not only will we benefit from the economic development implications, but we will also benefit from the skilled labor force created for our ongoing construction projects.”
Mike Rowe, executive producer and host of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs," is partnering with Go Build Georgia and will appear in the initial advertisements for the campaign. Rowe already promotes the skilled trades through Go Build Alabama and on mikeroweWORKS.com, which provides a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to investigate a career in skilled trades.
The Governor's Office of Workforce Development will begin promoting the program with a 13-stop tour of the state. After that, industries that hire tradesmen can kick in donations to pay for Go Build Georgia.
The state also will help by asking school counselors to emphasize skilled trades, and it has set up GoBuildGeorgia.com.
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