O’FALLON, IL – As Illinois expands access to education to meet the demand for skilled construction workers, the Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) has awarded a record 52 grants in the third year of its building trades and vocational education grant program. In 2024 SIBA awarded 30 grants; in 2025, 40 grants. These grants are funded by the Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program (SICAP).
Two of the schools receiving grants are located in Randolph County: Coulterville CUSD #1 and Steeleville High School
SIBA is providing the grants to high schools and vocational centers offering construction-related vocational programs. The grants assist schools in delivering hands-on training that prepares students for careers in the construction industry.
“We are proud to support these 52 schools because these grants are an investment in our region’s future workforce,” said Donna Richter, Chief Executive Officer of SIBA. “With Illinois high schools ramping up vocational education progdrams, SIBA’s targeted support in Southern Illinois, funded by SICAP, ensures local students gain the practical skills needed to fill high-demand jobs in building trades strengthening communities and the industry we serve.”
The schools receiving grants are: • Altamont High School • Alton High School • Belleville West High School • Bluford High School • Brussels High School • Carbondale Community High School • Carlinville High School • Carlyle High School • Carmi White County High School • Carterville High School • Central Community High School #71 • Cobden High School • Columbia High School • Coulterville CUSD #1 • DuQuoin High School • East Alton-Wood River High School • Edwards County High School • Effingham High School • Fairfield Community High School 225 • Flora High School • Frankfort Community High School • Hamilton County Jr./Sr. High School • Hardin Co. CUSD 1 • Harrisburg High School • Herrin High School • Highland High School • Joppa High School • Marion High School • Mt. Olive High School • Mt. Vernon High School • Murphysboro High School • NCOE CUSD #3 • North Clay Unit #25 • North Greene High School • Northwestern High School • O’Fallon Township High School • Okaw Area Vocational Center • Pope County High School • Red Hill Unit 10 • South Central High School • Southwestern High School • Staunton CUSD #6 • Steeleville High School • Teutopolis High School • Thompsonville CUSD #174 • Triad High School • Trico High School #176 • Vienna High School • Waterloo High School • Wayne City CUSD #100 • Wesclin High School • Zeigler Royalton High School
SIBA continues to seek opportunities to support and collaborate with high schools that offer vocational and technical education related to the construction industry. Schools are encouraged to report their class offerings and request classroom visits by construction industry professionals by contacting Donna Richter at ceo@siba-agc.org.
About Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA)The purpose of the Southern Illinois Builders Association is to advance the construction industry through strengthening our members by enabling them to do collectively what they cannot accomplish on their own. We offer a full range of services and programs to provide value to our members as “the voice of the construction industry in Southern Illinois.” |