CINCINNATI, Ohio — Megan Kilpatrick isn’t afraid to get down and dirty, and she means business.

What You Need To Know

  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati's Construction Training Program (CTP) gives students the skills and knowledge to prepare them for careers in the construction industry

  • The program is a mix of classroom and hands-on learning and covers everything from the basics of safety to material handling

  • According to the Associated General Contractors for America, more than 10,000 construction workers were hired in Ohio in 2023

“I’m not here to joke around," she said. "I'm here to get the job done the right way.”

She said working with her hands came natural to her and fueled her desire to build. 

“I’m able to put someone in a home forever, and seeing the smile on their face is amazing," Kilpatrick said.

She’s a graduate of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati’s Construction Training Program (CTP).

“The challenging part for me was being the only girl in my class," she said.

The program is a collaboration between Habitat for Humanity and CityLink. Over the course of six weeks, students gain the skills and knowledge to prepare them for careers in the construction industry. It’s a mix of classroom and hands-on learning and covers everything from the basics of safety to material handling. 

“I walked out of there with so many certificates. I mean, I got my OSHA 10s, and some of us got our OSHA 30. We got an NCERR,” Kilpatrick said.  

Thanks to donations and sponsorships, the program is completely free for students. 

“They can focus on their learning, pthat rofessional development, getting ready for interviews, and knowing that it's not going to be a financial burden for them,” CTP Skills Training Manager Holly Dorning-Savage said.  

The national trade association, Associated Builders and Contractors, estimates the number of construction workers in the country this year is about half a million fewer than the amount needed to meet industry demands.

Dorning-Savage said the country’s labor shortage could delay jobs and even create additional costs for companies. Despite that, she said there’s a shift in people being brought back into the trades. 

According to the Associated General Contractors for America, more than 10,000 construction workers were hired in Ohio in 2023, the fifth highest among any state. 

“It is a unique craft, and people who work in the trades are highly skilled. They take pride in their work,” Dorning-Savage said. 

Kilpatrick is helping build Habitat’s 700th home, which already has a buyer. As she continues using her hands as a service to others, she said it’s for a purpose that's bigger than herself. 

“I want to build for God," she said. "That's it. I love it. It's my joy. It's my peace. It's my happiness."

After completing the program, students have the opportunity to work a paid, full-time position for an additional six weeks at Habitat For Humanity. 

Just under 40 graduates completed the program this year.