Buffalo, NY — July, 2026 - CAHill TECH, a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)-certified workforce development company specializing in heavy construction training and pre-apprenticeship programs, has partnered with Laborers' Local 210 and Workforce Buffalo to bring the aQuiRe Construction Academy, a NYSDOL-certified hybrid pre-apprenticeship program, to Buffalo Public Schools PS 305 McKinley High School students. The program prepares the school’s Pathways in Technology (P-Tech) graduates for careers in construction, creating a clear pathway to family-sustaining careers in the skilled trades.

While McKinley P-TECH students recently graduated in June, they will not begin Alfred State College’s two-year trades program until January 2027. Through the Buffalo Public Schools CTE dual enrollment partnership, students earned 18 Alfred State college credits while still in high school, effectively completing their first semester of college coursework and creating a significant head start toward their associate degree. By entering college with a full semester already completed, students were able to advance more quickly through their program of study.

The aQuiRe Construction Academy was designed to address the critical enrollment gap between high school graduation and college enrollment, ensuring students remain engaged and on track as they transition to postsecondary education. "This partnership keeps our graduates moving forward during an important transition. Instead of waiting for the next step, they're gaining valuable skills, industry experience, and a stronger foundation for success at Alfred State and beyond,” said Robert Harris, Director of Career & Technical Education, Buffalo City Schools.

Funded by Workforce Buffalo, the paid five-week training program combines in-person, hands-on instruction with digital learning through the aQuiRe Construction Academy app. Workforce Buffalo is a network of employment and training providers, educational institutions, economic development agencies, and community organizations working together to help individuals achieve their career goals.

“This partnership addresses a workforce challenge felt across every community. Construction faces a widening talent gap as seasoned workers retire and demand for skilled labor grows. By equipping the next generation with hands-on training, trusted certifications, and a direct line to union apprenticeship, this partnership strengthens both individual futures and Western New York's broader construction industry,” said CAHill TECH Founder & CEO Carley Hill.

Hands-on training covers the core competencies every new construction worker needs, including site safety, equipment operation, work zone traffic control, and more. Additionally, the aQuiRe Construction Academy app provides students access to hundreds of safety and training videos covering topics ranging from properly reading a tape measure to pouring concrete, as well as the soft skills that help carry a career forward.

Students earn badges and certificates as they progress, providing employers with verifiable, confidence-inspiring credentials. The cohort also participates in networking visits to local unions and contractors, connecting graduates with the professionals who shape the industry across Western New York.

Upon completing the program, CAHill connects students with Laborers’ Local 210 for on-the-job training opportunities with local employers. Graduates can enter the union directly after high school, providing a seamless transition from training to employment. The partnership creates a direct pathway from classroom to college to career, keeping students engaged while preparing them for Alfred State College's two-year trades program.

"The construction industry needs skilled, motivated people, and this partnership creates exactly that. Students aren't just learning about construction. They're entering our industry with the training, work ethic, and certifications that help them succeed from day one," said Sam Capitano, President of the Upstate NY Laborers' District Council.

"The aQuiRe Construction Academy app brings technical and foundational knowledge together in a way that's both practical and flexible," said Pamela Baxter, OJT Program Manager and EAP Coordinator, NYS Department of Transportation. "But when you combine that with a union partnership, instructors who have truly experienced this work, and real equipment time, it becomes something powerful."

About CAHill and aQuiRe Construction Academy

CAHill TECH is a WBE/DBE-certified workforce development company specializing in the heavy construction industry. Through the aQuiRe Construction Academy App and the aQuiRe Construction Academy pre-apprenticeship program, CAHill TECH delivers digital curriculum certified by the American Council for Construction Education, compliance training, and career pathway programs that close the construction skills gap in Western New York, Central New York, and nationally. Learn more at https://www.cahilltech.com/

About P-TECH

The New York State Pathways in Technology (NYS P-TECH) program is a public-private partnership that will prepare thousands of New York students for high-skills jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance. Through these programs of study, students will be able to earn transcript college credit toward an associate degree. Career pathways begin in grade nine and include workplace learning and high school and college coursework. The pathway provides a seamless sequence of study extending through two years of post-secondary career and technical education which culminates in an A.A.S. degree.

Media Contacts

Jennifer Materese
Director of Operations, CAHill TECH
jennifer@cahillresources.com 
 
Jeffrey Hammond
Director of Public Relations and Information
jwhammond@buffaloschools.org