FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sharon Couts
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
425.499.1723

$30,000 in Scholarship Funds Available to Students Enrolled in Residential Construction Programs

Deadline to Apply is April 30, 2018

BELLEVUE, Wash—April 23, 2018—Nearly 82 percent of construction businesses struggle to find qualified skilled labor, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) and Redfin. This labor shortage, area companies say, is a factor in too few homes being constructed and contributes to higher home prices.

In an effort to develop skilled labor for the industry, bring more homes to market, and help ease the costs of housing, MBAKS is working to attract more high school and college students to exciting careers in the construction and trades industries through education programs and scholarships.

Each year, MBAKS offers $30,000 in scholarships to students who are seeking education related to the homebuilding industry and are enrolled at qualifying technical, community college, and university-level programs within Washington state. Students can apply at mbaks.com/scholarships.

About the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties has grown to become the largest residential homebuilders association in the United States. With nearly 3,000 member companies, the association is dedicated to membership value, housing advocacy, community service, and financial stewardship throughout the Puget Sound region.

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The Building Industry Association of Washington has received a 2018 City Champion Award in the Partners for Progress category from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC).

The award was given to BIAW and other partners, including MBAKS and several of its members, for finding common ground to help pass Hirst and Foster “fix” legislation and for efforts to ensure city challenges were expressed throughout the process.

“This award recognizes the unique partnerships created to address the complex water resource issues that faced our state these past few years,” the AWC announced.

BIAW President Kevin Russell says of the award, “We are honored to be an AWC award recipient along with all of the other partners. BIAW is pleased that we were able to find common ground and a mutually agreed to fix for the Hirst and Foster decisions.” 

“The importance of the Hirst Fix cannot be overstated,” adds MBAKS Interim Director of Government Affairs Mike Pattison. “Without the hard work of so many dedicated partners, entire family savings and hopes would have been wiped out.”

Read the full press release

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

New data from the Puget Sound Regional Council show our four-county region (King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap counties) has added more than 464,000 jobs since 2010. That works out to over 2.75 jobs for every housing unit constructed during this period.

The Builder's Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report: