Residential Construction Academy at SPSCC provides hands-on training and pathways into the construction workforce

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), in partnership with the Olympia Master Builders (OMB) Foundation and United Way of Thurston County (UWTC), is launching a third cohort of its 10-week Residential Construction Academy to train and certify the next generation of construction professionals, a news release from UWTC stated.

With Washington state facing a shortage of approximately 225,000 housing units, the Residential Construction Academy is stepping up to address the critical labor gap in the homebuilding industry, according to the release. The third cohort of the program begins on Jan. 5, 2026, with three orientation sessions available on Nov. 13, Dec. 2, or Dec. 17, 2025. Each session begins at 3:30 p.m.

The Academy is the result of a United Way-led task force with support from Olympia Master Builders Foundation and SPSCC. With guidance and support from industry experts and local workforce leaders, students will gain practical, hands-on experience in residential construction, preparing them to enter the trades immediately upon graduation, the release stated.

Students must first attend an orientation session. Registration and program details are available through SPSCC at https://tinyurl.com/p4duc6vd.