The Northeast Florida Builders Association has started a program to provide hands-on instruction in basic construction skills to cadets from the Florida Youth Challenge Academy. “We have made a commitment to teach these young men and women basic construction skills and safety. They put those skills to work volunteering on Builders Care projects. This can really open their eyes to the opportunities in our industry for bright, creative young men and women,” said NEFBA president Denise Wallace. The training program was made possible through funding from the Home Builders Institute, the workforce development arm of the National Association of Home Builders and the U.S. Department of Labor. Builders Care was launched last October by NEFBA to help reduce substandard housing by doing repairs on houses belonging to the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged. Builders Care is supported through funding by the Duval County Housing Finance Authority. Since October the program has repaired over 100 houses.