The AGC Georgia Skills Challenge series was a big hit in 2024 with over 2,200 students (competitors and observers) attending from 104 schools. This annual series is hosted in Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Moultrie, Rome, and Statesboro.
The core competitions are Carpentry, Electrical, Masonry, Plumbing, and Welding. We are collaborating with SkillsUSA Georgia to also offer an opportunity for students to compete at most of the eight regional events in Cabinetmaking, TeamWorks and Welding Fabrication. Winners from each of these eight competitions, who hold membership in SkillsUSA, will advance to compete at SkillsUSA Georgia's State Leadership & Skills Conference (SLSC) in February 2025.
At several of the regional Skills Challenges, students are also offered the opportunity to compete in Blueprint Reading, Heavy Equipment Operations, HVAC, Metal Studs/Drywall, Roofing, and Sheet Metal.
This statewide workforce development program is only made possible through the support of many industry professionals. Along with our regional contractor champions from each event who volunteer hundreds of hours of their time and expertise, we also benefit from the hundreds of thousands of dollars in sponsorships from industry firms across the state who value efforts to grow the construction industry's talent pipeline for generations to come.
Each year hundreds of influencers including state legislators, school superintendents, high school counselors, mayors, school board members, and leaders from the Department of Education and Technical College System of Georgia to attend to see our state's young people show off their SKILLS! Please consider getting involved in one or more Skills Challenges for the 2025 series! Some ways to consider engaging with this statewide initiative is to offer a hands-on exhibitor experience at a Challenge for students, provide sponsorship dollars through our 501c3 Foundation, or to have a seasoned professional from your company serve as a competition judge. We are also in need of in-kind donations for materials. Perhaps you have other ways you'd like to connect with the students such as sponsoring prizes or offering give aways from students. The opportunities are endless and we are open to your ideas!
Please reach out to Tim Hobbs, Workforce Development Specialist, at 678-298-4122 or by email at hobbs@agcga.org.