Associated Builders & Contractors of Arkansas has a new home after a $535,000 transaction.
The chapter of a national trade group bought a 12,700-SF complex at 6-8 Collins Industrial Place in North Little Rock from the Martha Jean Kierre Irrevocable Trust.
The deal closed on July 14, according to ABC President Bill Roachell.
Roachell said there are two buildings on the property; the front one with 7,700 SF and a second one in the back with 5,000 SF.
The front building will house offices for the organization’s staff and will be renovated. Plans are to move them from an 1,200-SF leased space at 22 Collins Industrial Place by February.
The organization has four full-time people on staff.
Also planned for the space is a conference room that members can use to have large meetings. It could also be split into two rooms if necessary, Roachell said.
Roachell said the back building, which didn’t need to be renovated, will house classrooms and a laboratory for a recently launched apprenticeship program in the plumbing, electrical, HVAC and masonry trades.
A contractor hasn’t been hired yet, but the architect is Don Johnson of Little Rock’s Johnson Architects.
Roachell said ABC is working on a budget, but has not hired a contractor and will launch a capital campaign. The organization’s members can help with the project in three ways; by donating materials and/or equipment, by donating labor or by donating cash.
Meanwhile, the first class of the new four-year apprenticeship program was held on Aug. 7 in the back building.
The new program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor as an approved apprenticeship program and is also approved through the state Department of Career Education.
Roachell expects it to grow to an enrollment of 250-300 apprentices within a couple of years, based on interest that has been expressed. He also said the space between the buildings offers an opportunity to expand the facility as needed.
ABC also plans to hire a full-time administrative assistant to help with paperwork related to the program and five more part-time instructors next year. It already employs one part-time instructor. The new instructors will likely be skilled tradesmen recommended by members who need only learn teaching techniques before enter the classroom.
Roachell also hopes that this program will help build a needed pipeline of skilled workers to replace those who are approaching retirement. Right now, the demand for skilled workers is huge but they are in short supply, he said.
There are grants and state funding available to support the program, but employers that these apprentices are getting on-the-job training with are paying for it too, he said.