Construction Inclusion Week runs October 12–17, and this year's theme, Opening Doors, Building a Workplace for Everyone, speaks directly to how Rockford approaches its work. The future of our industry depends on investing in the next generation of skilled workers and creating workplaces where everyone feels welcome, respected and empowered to grow.
Throughout the week, we’ll welcome students and our community to jobsites to provide exposure to career pathways in the industry. But our commitment extends well beyond a single week.
Investing in our workforce and community
Guided by our vision of Building a Better World and our value of Building Strength Through Diversity, Rockford invests in initiatives that create opportunity and strengthen the communities where we work. We do this through:
- Career exploration. Full-time roles, internships, jobsite tours and educational outreach help students and job seekers discover careers in construction.
- Strong partnerships. We collaborate with schools, workforce organizations and partners such as the West Michigan Construction Institute, Construction Allies in Action and other local minority contractor associations.
Spotlight: Dimensions 2.0
One of the many ways we put this commitment into action is Dimensions, Rockford's program for underrepresented contractors in the commercial industry.
Originally an eight-week series led by Rockford leaders and industry experts, Dimensions covers the full project lifecycle, from budgeting and bidding to safety and project management. This year, we relaunched it as Dimensions 2.0, welcoming five full-time commercial firms referred through our partners.
Support continues well beyond the sessions:
- Dedicated navigators from our operations team serve as each participant's direct point of contact.
- Regular check-ins every other month give participants space to share successes, discuss challenges and learn about upcoming projects.
- Responsive education addresses real-time business needs, from AI and procurement to invoicing and pay applications.
- Lasting relationships with Rockford leadership, plus early insight into upcoming projects, help participants prepare for bidding opportunities.
Building a Better Future for All
Opening doors takes intention, and it takes all of us. Whether through a jobsite tour, an internship or a partnership with a growing trade contractor, every opportunity we create helps build a stronger, more inclusive industry. This Construction Inclusion Week, we're proud to celebrate the people and partners helping Rockford build a workplace for everyone.
