Trades Talk – July 2026

EXPLORE THE TRADES
| July 6, 2026
| Blog, Trades Talk - Newsletters

Explore The Trades & NCCER to Partner at ASCA Conference

Explore The Trades is excited to exhibit at this month’s American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Conference alongside NCCER.

Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with both organizations and learn how we support career pathways into the skilled trades, helping students discover hands-on, high-demand career opportunities.

We’re also proud to offer the Explore The Trades + NCCER Co‑Kit—a downloadable collection of resources designed to help school counselors introduce students to careers in construction and the skilled trades.

Download the kit with the link below.

If you’re attending ASCA, be sure to stop by Booth 925!

Build Your Talent Pipeline with Tools from Explore The Trades

Explore The Trades is excited to introduce two new resources designed to help you connect with and inspire future skilled trades professionals.

Our Career Connections Event Guide provides step-by-step support for planning and hosting impactful events that bring students, educators, and industry partners together to explore rewarding career pathways in the service trades.

We’ve also launched the Ride & Decide How to Guide, a practical resource to help you create meaningful, hands-on career exploration experiences for students.

Explore these new resources and start building your workforce pipeline with the link below!

Donor Spotlight: Building Careers That Save Lives

Most people never think about fire sprinklers — until they save lives. The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is a leader in life safety training and education, working to ensure these critical systems are installed and maintained by highly skilled professionals.

Fire sprinkler systems are closely connected to the plumbing and pipefitting trades, relying on many of the same core skills to design, install, and maintain the piping networks that deliver water in an emergency. Through its support of career and technical education, apprenticeships, and industry certifications, AFSA is helping meet the growing demand for workers in fire protection while reinforcing pathways into these essential, interconnected trades.

AFSA is committed to helping students discover rewarding careers that make a real difference — protecting lives, businesses, and communities every day.

Read more about AFSA and their impact on our website.

Explore The Trades Expands Impact with Grant Support

Explore The Trades is proud to announce new grant support from and Enterprise Mobility Foundation™, strengthening our shared commitment to building the next generation of skilled trades professionals.

Grant funding from the Enterprise Mobility Foundation™ will expand access to skilled trades resources for students, educators, and industry partners nationwide. Currently reaching more than 1.2 million students across 3,200+ school districts, Explore The Trades continues to grow its impact by delivering engaging, career-focused learning experiences in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical fields.

Click the link below to read more.

America Turns 250. Let’s Build What Comes Next.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we’re reflecting on the skilled hands that have built this country.

From infrastructure and housing to the systems we rely on every day, the skilled trades have always been at the heart of America’s growth and resilience.

Today, the need is greater than ever to invest in the next generation of trades professionals. By supporting Explore The Trades, you’re helping students discover meaningful, in-demand career pathways and ensuring the workforce that builds America remains strong for the next 250 years.

Join us in building what’s next. Visit our website to learn more and make a donation today.