Colorado Builds New Path to Construction Leadership

DENVER, CO – April 09, 2026 – Emily Griffith Technical College launched the Project SCALE High Potential Leadership Program today, a groundbreaking initiative designed by employers to elevate experienced construction professionals into leadership roles and directly confront a severe statewide labor shortage.

The program, offered at no cost to participants, equips skilled craft professionals with the management and supervisory skills needed to lead teams on complex jobsites. With its inaugural cohort of 50 students already filled, the launch signals a significant, industry-backed effort to build a sustainable talent pipeline from within.

An Industry-Forged Solution to a Critical Shortage

The initiative arrives at a crucial moment for Colorado. The state's construction industry is facing a monumental workforce gap, with estimates suggesting a need for an additional 30,000 to 50,000 skilled professionals by 2030 to meet demand. This shortage is compounded by an experienced workforce nearing retirement, creating a vacuum in critical leadership and project management positions.

The Project SCALE program is engineered to fill this void. It targets experienced construction workers who have mastered their craft but require formal training to move into frontline supervisory roles. The curriculum, designed by the very companies that will employ its graduates, focuses on practical, high-demand competencies including project management, scheduling, cost management, on-site supervision, and effective vendor communication. The goal is to provide the practical leadership acumen necessary to manage crews, budgets, and timelines on active construction projects.

The Collaborative Blueprint: Uniting Education and Employers

This program is the product of the Project SCALE Construction Collaborative, a unique, employer-led partnership co-hosted by the Associated General Contractors of Colorado and Colorado Succeeds. The collaborative unites union and non-union construction firms, K-12 education systems, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs under a single mission: to build a unified talent pipeline.

Key industry players, including national construction firm Loenbro, have provided direct leadership and participation, ensuring the program's content is immediately relevant to the industry's pressing needs. This employer-driven model represents a strategic shift from traditional training programs. Funding is a shared responsibility, with employer investments, philanthropic support, and college funds combining to eliminate any tuition cost for the nominated participants. This financial structure, bolstered by state initiatives like the Opportunity Now Colorado grant program, removes a significant barrier to upskilling for working adults.

“This program shows what’s possible when employers take the lead in co-designing talent solutions,” said Scott Laband, president and CEO of Colorado Succeeds. “Together with Emily Griffith Technical College, Loenbro and our Project SCALE partners—we are building a clear, scalable pathway from the jobsite to leadership, connecting education and industry to expand opportunity for workers and strengthen Colorado’s talent system.”

From the Jobsite to a Degree: A New Pathway for Advancement

The Project SCALE High Potential Leadership Program offers more than just a certificate; it creates a structured ladder for long-term career advancement. Built for working adults, the 11-month program is delivered fully remotely in the evenings, allowing participants to continue their full-time employment while they learn. Upon completion, graduates earn a 15-credit leadership certificate from Emily Griffith Technical College, an institution accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.

Critically, this certificate is a stackable credential. Thanks to 2025 Colorado legislation that allows registered apprenticeship experience to be translated into college credit, this new leadership program creates a powerful pathway to higher education. For many participants, the credits earned from their apprenticeship combined with the new 15-credit certificate can fulfill the requirements for an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Construction, a degree program approved for Emily Griffith in April 2025. This integration transforms a job into a clear, attainable career with academic milestones, offering unprecedented mobility for skilled tradespeople.

A National Model in the Making

By directly linking apprenticeship, on-the-job experience, leadership training, and degree attainment, Colorado's Project SCALE program is pioneering a comprehensive workforce development model that is drawing national attention. While employer-led initiatives exist elsewhere, the deep integration with state legislation, the blend of union and non-union partners, and the clear pathway to a college degree make this a uniquely powerful and replicable framework.

For companies like Loenbro, a firm that emphasizes internal growth and a philosophy of developing leaders, not just employees, the strategic benefit is clear. Participation allows them to directly cultivate the next generation of supervisors and project managers from their own ranks, improving retention and ensuring their leadership pipeline is filled with individuals who possess both hands-on expertise and formal management training.

As the first cohort begins their studies, the program introduces a new paradigm for construction workforce development—one that links apprenticeship, leadership training, and degree attainment into a clear, employer-driven pathway for advancement in Colorado’s vital construction industry.