Ten years ago, the residential construction industry was in a crises. There was an extreme shortage of skilled labor within the industry and the residential construction labor pool was decreasing. It was the foresight of a group of award winning builders to create the Minnesota Building Industry Foundation in 1994 to address the skilled labor shortage though recruitment and scholarship of students into the industry.

Focusing on education, the Foundation created scholarship programs after generous donations from the family of Harold E. Swanson. Harold was a Builders Association of Minnesota Board Member and Building Industry Hall of Fame recipient. Wausau Homes soon followed suit by creating a scholarship in memory of employee Chad Woxland to assist students entering the industry. These scholarships raised awareness of the construction industry as a viable career choice to high school counselors statewide.

The Foundation later added a statewide "Tools for Schools" program. The program provided tool-kits for students statewide and also provided grants to high schools for larger tool expenditures for their construction education programs.

The Foundation furthered awareness, helping promote "Careers in Construction Day" events statewide. To accompany these events, the Foundation created a video geared toward high school students to promote a career in the industry.

Today there is a new environment and a new need in the residential construction industry. The Foundation has broadened its scope and focus to work not only on education programs, but to also dedicate resources to research projects that will further the quality of residential construction in Minnesota through education of improved building techniques and better understanding of code requirements.

In the future, the Foundation will expand and grow to keep pace with our industry needs as it continues to change.