DES MOINES, IOWA (June 18, 2021) — The Master Builders of Iowa (MBI) has announced the release of this year’s RFP for the MBI-WORKS Endowment that is available to eligible schools and non-profit programs. The open period for accepting applications will run from today through September 3, 2021.
Launched in 2019, the MBI-WORKS Endowment was created to offer resources to complement career education and workforce recruitment into the Iowa commercial construction industry. In total, MBI Leaders had committed $5 million toward the establishment of MBI-WORKS Endowment. In the past two years, funds from the Endowment have now leveraged over $1.3 million in workforce-recruitment efforts into the commercial construction industry.
“The MBI-WORKS Endowment is an exciting initiative that creates awareness of the tremendous potential for excellent careers in commercial construction,” said Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development and current MBI-WORKS Endowment Board member. “The Endowment funds programs all over the state and informs students and parents about great-paying and highly-rewarding careers available right now in the commercial construction industry. We know that creating this experience through ‘hands on’-type projects is critical to educate students about the significant number of opportunities in commercial construction.”
The Endowment will take into consideration proposals that are focused on construction career-advocacy, as well as other initiatives focused on creating interest in the commercial construction industry. The Board of Directors of the Endowment, made up of 11 people both in and out of the industry, will accept proposals and eventually provide funding for those that best fit the mission of the Endowment. Successful Endowment recipients must have partnered on a proposal with an MBI member and be a 501c3 in order to accept funding. Applications will close at 4PM on September 3, 2021.
The RFP is available now through MBI’s website at https://www.mbi.build/our-services/workforce-development/mbi-works-endowment/.
Founded in 1912, MBI is one of over 100 chapters of the Associated General Contractors of America, the most influential and widely respected construction association in the country. MBI's members perform the majority of the state's commercial, industrial, and public-works building-projects.
