Seedorff Masonry, Inc. Awarded $25,500 for Workforce Recruitment Initiatives in Delaware County
A partnership between The Foundation for the Future of Delaware County, West Delaware Community School District, and Seedorff Masonry, Inc. wins funds for 2021 through the MBI-WORKS Endowment.
Last month at the Master Builders of Iowa (MBI) Annual Winter Conference, the MBI-WORKS Endowment, a fund focused on addressing the commercial construction industry’s workforce needs, announced the 2021 Award Recipients. Among this year’s five recipients is a partnership between MBI member, Seedorff Masonry, Inc. (SMI), and local non-profits, West Delaware Community School District and The Foundation for the Future of Delaware County (FFDC).
The funded project, titled the Skilled Craft Integration Program, aims to create a one-of-a-kind, interactive experience for students that will accommodate in-person, virtual, and hands-on learning. Students will have the chance to be a part of a “legacy” class project to showcase learned skills, increase the visibility within the school district and community, and create a training center built by the students themselves.
“Our goal is to give students an experience they won’t forget, and skills that can create the foundation for future success. We’re going to position a career in construction as a first choice, not the last option,” says Mark Guetzko, CEO, Seedorff Holdings, Inc. Guetzko added, “We will use the funds from the Endowment to execute a successful program in 2021 at West Delaware, then use that model to build additional collaborative partnerships across the state and develop a program that can be replicated throughout Iowa.”
The Skilled Craft Integration Program and Legacy Project has an overall budget of more than $90,000, including: $25,500 from the MBI-WORKS Endowment; $41,100 in-kind donations, and a $23,500 match from SMI.
About the MBI-WORKS Endowment
Earnings from the $5 million Endowment are being used to provide financial assistance through a grant solicitation process to programs and projects focused on increasing the number of people entering the commercial construction workforce and raising the awareness of the commercial construction industry and the career opportunities available in it. MBI-WORKS has a Board of Directors that determines how funds from the Endowment are allocated. Each year, the Endowment Board solicits proposals. The next round of funding is expected to open in the Summer of 2021.
About Seedorff Masonry, Inc.
Seedorff Masonry, Inc. (SMI) is a full-service masonry contractor, serving the Midwest for more than 60 years. SMI has earned multiple awards for their leadership in workforce recruitment, excellence in craftsmanship, masonry design, and community impact. Their team is passionate about shaping the next generation of the construction industry.
The funded project, titled the Skilled Craft Integration Program, aims to create a one-of-a-kind, interactive experience for students that will accommodate in-person, virtual, and hands-on learning. Students will have the chance to be a part of a “legacy” class project to showcase learned skills, increase the visibility within the school district and community, and create a training center built by the students themselves.
“Our goal is to give students an experience they won’t forget, and skills that can create the foundation for future success. We’re going to position a career in construction as a first choice, not the last option,” says Mark Guetzko, CEO, Seedorff Holdings, Inc. Guetzko added, “We will use the funds from the Endowment to execute a successful program in 2021 at West Delaware, then use that model to build additional collaborative partnerships across the state and develop a program that can be replicated throughout Iowa.”
The Skilled Craft Integration Program and Legacy Project has an overall budget of more than $90,000, including: $25,500 from the MBI-WORKS Endowment; $41,100 in-kind donations, and a $23,500 match from SMI.
About the MBI-WORKS Endowment
Earnings from the $5 million Endowment are being used to provide financial assistance through a grant solicitation process to programs and projects focused on increasing the number of people entering the commercial construction workforce and raising the awareness of the commercial construction industry and the career opportunities available in it. MBI-WORKS has a Board of Directors that determines how funds from the Endowment are allocated. Each year, the Endowment Board solicits proposals. The next round of funding is expected to open in the Summer of 2021.
About Seedorff Masonry, Inc.
Seedorff Masonry, Inc. (SMI) is a full-service masonry contractor, serving the Midwest for more than 60 years. SMI has earned multiple awards for their leadership in workforce recruitment, excellence in craftsmanship, masonry design, and community impact. Their team is passionate about shaping the next generation of the construction industry.