CAGC Invests $5.5M to Strengthen Carolinas Construction Workforce and Small Businesses

Carolinas, August 13, 2025

News Summary

The Carolinas Associated General Contractors (CAGC) has committed $5.5 million across a Construction Bootcamp and a Construction Business Academy to boost workforce capacity and small-business growth. The bootcamp partners with community colleges to accelerate training in trades such as plumbing, electrical and carpentry, producing apprenticeship and internship placements. The business academy has supported 100+ firms—many minority- and women-owned—with free training, planning and capital access, reporting an average 53% revenue lift and $2.15M in new project revenue. A Young Leader Program has trained 335+ professionals in tech, sustainability and digital construction methods to build a scalable talent pipeline.

Carolinas construction readied for major infrastructure era after $5.5M investment in workforce and small-business programs

The region’s construction sector is moving quickly to close workforce and business gaps that could block a wave of federal infrastructure spending. A combined $5.5 million in new funding is supporting two statewide initiatives: a Construction Bootcamp and a Construction Business Academy. Together, the programs have trained more than 335 young professionals and helped over 100 small businesses, which reported an average revenue increase of 53% and generated $2.15 million in new project revenue.

Key facts up front

• $2.5 million state grant funds a Construction Bootcamp that partners with North Carolina community colleges.
• $3 million funds a Construction Business Academy serving minority, women, and disadvantaged business owners.
• More than 335 participants under the age of 45 are enrolled in youth leadership training focused on technology, sustainability, and workforce innovation.
• Over 100 small firms report measurable gains: an average 53% revenue increase and $2.15 million in new project revenue tied to academy support.
• The initiatives align with national infrastructure priorities tied to a $1.2 trillion deployment over eight years under the current federal infrastructure framework.

What the programs do

The youth leadership program focuses on building a pipeline of professionals equipped to meet modern project demands. Participants under 45 receive training in digital tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM), exposure to sustainability practices, and introduction to workforce innovation. The program also makes high-impact events more affordable and pairs younger workers with experienced mentors to accelerate practical learning.

The Construction Bootcamp, backed by a state grant, partners with community colleges to fast-track training for critical trades such as plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry. Its first cohort produced graduates who moved into apprenticeships and internships, creating a near-term flow of qualified trade labor into the regional market.

The Construction Business Academy is funded as a focused business-growth initiative. It offers free business training, strategic planning support, and access to capital for minority, women, and disadvantaged business owners. The academy reports concrete outcomes: participating firms frequently adopt lean methods, integrate digital tools, and expand operations—measured by the observed revenue increases and new contracts.

Impacts on projects and investors

Program leaders frame the investments as measures that lower project risk and reduce delays and cost overruns by building human capital. Firms that employ trained staff and adopt technologies such as AI-driven project management, modular construction, and BIM often see improved operational margins. For investors, the local ecosystem offers two practical advantages: workforce development that reduces execution risk and innovation adoption that boosts margins, creating a more stable environment for long-term infrastructure investment.

How this fits a larger picture

These regional efforts align with broader federal funding timelines and market signals. The federal infrastructure funding framework allocates approximately $1.2 trillion over eight years, creating demand for skilled labor and capable small firms. Macro indicators, including steady gains in the S&P Construction Index over the past five years, point to increasing market demand for infrastructure, residential, and commercial projects. The combined effect of funding, skilled labor pipelines, and small-business growth positions the Carolinas to capture a share of that activity.

Scalability and sustainability

Measured outcomes—apprenticeships and internships from the bootcamp, significant revenue growth and new projects from the business academy—are presented as evidence of scalable models for workforce and small-business development. The programs also emphasize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) alignment to meet evolving procurement standards and sustainability mandates, and to attract capital that values ESG compliance.

Why timing matters

With a large federal funding program set to unfold and clear market signals of higher construction demand, aligning training and business support now can reduce bottlenecks later. The initiatives aim to produce a new generation of leaders who can adapt to technological, demographic, and environmental shifts—creating a more resilient construction ecosystem in the Carolinas.

Bottom line

The combined $5.5 million investment in skill-building and business support creates immediate workforce capacity and measurable small-business growth. Those results offer a practical framework for managing the larger flow of infrastructure work expected over the coming years and provide a replicable approach for regions preparing for major federal investment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Key features at a glance

Feature	Details	Measured Impact
Funding	$2.5M Bootcamp + $3M Business Academy = $5.5M total	Supports training, business growth, and capital access
Youth Leadership	335+ participants under 45; tech, sustainability, mentorship	Pipeline for skilled project managers and tech adopters
Bootcamp	Partnerships with community colleges; trades training	Graduates entering apprenticeships and internships
Business Academy	Free training, strategic planning, access to capital for diverse owners	100+ firms; average 53% revenue growth; $2.15M new project revenue
Technology & ESG	BIM, AI project tools, modular construction, ESG-aligned practices	Improved margins, lower project risk, better investor alignment

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Additional Resources

• AInvest: Emerging Leadership in the Construction Sector — Carolinas
• Wikipedia: Construction industry in the United States
• The Malaysian Reserve: Carolinas AGC responds to national workforce shortage
• Google Search: Carolinas AGC Construction Bootcamp Business Academy
• Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America
• Google Scholar: construction workforce development apprenticeship
• North Carolina Community College System
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Apprenticeship (search)
• Construction Dive (industry news)
• Google News: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Carolinas