The Roofing Alliance Announces 2019 Funding Initiatives

Funding awards include new SkillsUSA & NRCA partnership.

The Roofing Alliance, the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), proudly announced the approval of several funding projects including funding for a newly initiated partnership between SkillsUSA and NRCA. 

Bennett Judson, Roofing Alliance Executive Director, announced that a total of $270,276 in project funding was approved.  Approximately 70% of funding dollars were earmarked for continuing initiatives, committee projects and programs including the ongoing sponsorship of the Ronald McDonald House Charities® where Roofing Alliance / NRCA contractors adopt roofs, providing service and maintenance to keep Ronald McDonald House families together.  Other programs including the Student Competition and construction management partnerships with universities were also approved for continuation.

Two new projects approved for funding are focused on future workforce development.  In an ongoing effort to build the professional reputation of roofing while working to increase interest in working in the roofing industry, the Roofing Alliance helped to finance NRCA’s partnership with SkillsUSA.  As part of the funding plan, a joint committee has been formed with NRCA and Roofing Alliance members to focus on Career and Technical Education (CTE) outreach with SkillsUSA as a first and integral step for the initiative.

As recently released, NRCA’s partnership with SkillsUSA makes them an Official SkillsUSA Business Partner.  SkillsUSA is an organization that creates partnerships with students, teachers and trade industries, specific for the NRCA initiative is the roofing trade; helping them work together to ensure the U.S. has a growing skilled labor workforce.  Their programs provide educational information, events and competitions that support career and technical education in U.S. classrooms.
 
"NRCA looks forward to engaging with SkillsUSA and expanding NRCA's outreach and footprint in the career and technical fields to establish roofing as a core curriculum in schools and help NRCA members address workforce shortages," says Nick Sabino, founder and president of Deer Park Roofing Inc., Cincinnati, and NRCA chairman of the board elect.  “We appreciate the ongoing support of the Roofing Alliance. Their assistance allows NRCA to implement and continue  initiatives that support the growth and professionalism of the roofing industry.”
 
Also funded was a program with Clemson University to bring awareness of the roofing industry to construction management, engineering and architectural students.  The funding will finance the development and implementation of a 3-hour credited, roofing focused college-level course created and implemented by Dr. Dhaval Gajjar who is part of the construction management program at Clemson University. The Alliance encourages those seeking funding in 2020 to begin preparing their ideas now.

Every year, the Roofing Alliance also announces the recipients of the Melvin Kruger scholarships for 2019-20 school year.  This year eleven scholarships were awarded with seven renewals and four new scholarships.  Newly announced is that the Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship program will also be open to students entering vocational-technical trade schools starting with the 2020-21 school year.  Details will be available Aug. 1, 2019.

About the Roofing Alliance
The Roofing Alliance is committed to shaping the industry’s future by funding education, research, scholarships and philanthropic initiatives, all for the purpose of securing the industry’s future excellence.  Composed of 167 members representing extraordinary leaders from the contracting, manufacturing, distribution and service provider communities, the Roofing Alliance has committed $13 million to enhance the performance and long-term viability of the industry and allocated more than $5 million to fund 48 research, education, technical and philanthropic programs and projects.  Serving as the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Roofing Alliance members are focused on giving back and supporting high-quality educational programs and ensuring timely and forward-thinking industry responses to major economic and technological issues. For more information about Roofing Alliance initiatives, visit www.roofingalliance.net.

About National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
NRCA is one of the construction industry's most respected trade associations and the voice and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. NRCA's mission is to inform and assist the roofing industry, act as its principal advocate and help members in serving their customers. NRCA continually strives to enhance every aspect of the roofing industry. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit www.nrca.net.

About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry to strengthen our nation's skilled workforce. Driven by employer demand, SkillsUSA helps students develop necessary personal and workplace skills along with technical skills grounded in academics. This SkillsUSA Framework empowers every student to succeed at work and in life, while helping to close the "skills gap" in which millions of positions go unfilled. Through SkillsUSA's championships program and curricula, employers have long ensured schools are teaching relevant technical skills, and with SkillsUSA's new credentialing process, they can now assess how ready potential employees are for the job. SkillsUSA has more than 360,000 annual members nationwide in high schools, colleges and middle schools, covering over 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and is recognized by the U.S. departments of Education and Labor as integral to career and technical education. For more information, visit www.skillsusa.org.