ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Roofing Alliance, the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association, has 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 percent 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," said 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 11 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. Learn more at www.roofingalliance.net.