ProWood, a manufacturer-distributor of premium pressure-treated lumber and a brand under UFP Retail Solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with the National Hispanic Construction Alliance (NHCA) to support the launch of the Build the Builder program. This initiative is designed to train Hispanic developers and trade workers with the goal of addressing critical knowledge and workforce gaps in the construction industry.
ProWood contributes to the Build the Builder program's inaugural in-person cohorts, which focus on real estate fundamentals, financing, project planning, and community reinvestment. The company is also providing executive guidance through representation on the NHCA Corporate Advisory Council and supporting the translation of program materials into Spanish to broaden accessibility.
The partnership comes at a time when Hispanic workers constitute nearly one-third of the U.S. construction workforce and have driven a significant portion of recent industry growth.
Image Credit: ProWood x
What's Driving This Trend
- Hispanic Workforce Development
- Growing representation of Hispanic workers in construction is creating new models for inclusive talent pipelines that reshape hiring and retention dynamics.
- Bilingual Training Materials
- Translated curricula and Spanish-language resources are enabling scalable skill transfer and credentialing tailored to non-English-speaking trade workers.
- Industry-corporate Partnerships
- Collaborations between manufacturers and advocacy groups are redefining how vocational education is funded, governed, and linked to supply chains.
Who This Affects Most
- Construction
- A large Hispanic labor base is shifting workforce planning and prompting new on-site training systems that change productivity and project delivery models.
- Building Materials
- Manufacturer involvement in training initiatives is creating opportunities for product-integrated education and vertically aligned distribution strategies.
- Education and Workforce Training
- Demand for culturally relevant, bilingual programs is driving innovation in modular credentials and microlearning platforms targeted at tradespeople.
