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Badger Building Center donation supports construction apprentices

North Idaho College Workforce Training Center Construction Apprenticeship year four students stand near a shed similar to the one they will build using construction materials valued at $1,896 that were donated by Badger Building Center’ Post Falls branch. (Courtesy photo)

Students in the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center’s Construction Apprenticeship program will gain hands-on experience building a storage shed this winter thanks to a generous in-kind donation of building materials from Badger Building Center in Post Falls. The donated materials, valued at $1,896, will be used by apprentices to apply framing, carpentry, and jobsite skills learned throughout their coursework.

The donated materials were delivered by Tim Bales, branch manager of Badger Building Center in Post Falls. Bales said the donation aligns with Badger’s mission statement: “We help build better communities,” and with the company’s core values.

“These students are the future of our industry. It’s great to see them get excited about it,” Bales said. “If we can help them get the training and knowledge they need to succeed, that’s a win for the whole community.”

Colleen Hoffman, NIC Workforce Training’s customized training and project manager, said support from community partners like Tim Bales and Badger Building center strengthens the center’s ability to give apprentices the type of real-world experience employers look for.  

“This donation directly benefits students who are building the skills that lead to good-paying jobs in the construction trades,” Hoffman said.

The Construction Apprenticeship program offered by the NIC Workforce Training Center blends online, classroom instruction with supervised, on-the-job training in partnership with local employers. Registered apprentices learn foundational and advanced building skills while working toward journey-level competency in the carpentry trade. Courses cover topics such as construction safety, blueprint reading, hand and power tool use, framing, materials handling, and jobsite communication. Apprentices earn while they learn, gaining practical experience on active projects while completing the required related training hours. They also earn National Center for Construction Education and Research Certification, and their apprenticeship classwork can be transcribed at no cost for North Idaho College credits.

The shed-building project made possible through Badger’s donation allows students to take their classroom learning into a fully applied setting—measuring, cutting, framing, and assembling materials just as they would on a professional jobsite.

This gift reflects another example of industry partners investing in workforce development across the region. NIC Workforce Training continues to collaborate with local businesses to help meet North Idaho’s growing demand for skilled construction professionals.

For more information about NIC’s Construction Apprenticeship program, visit nic.edu/apprenticeship.