LeChase Construction Staff Engage Rochester Students Through Junior Achievement BizTown Program

Employees volunteer at the Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center, helping students experience real-world business roles and financial decision-making in an immersive learning environment.

Highlights

• LeChase Construction employees volunteered at Junior Achievement Discovery Center in Rochester
• Students from Rochester City School District participated in JA BizTown simulation program
• Initiative focused on teaching budgeting, careers, and business operations through hands-on learning
• LeChase previously served as design-builder for the Discovery Center project completed in 2024
• Event included collaboration with Buckingham Properties employees

Hands-on learning connects construction industry with future workforce

Employees from LeChase Construction Services, LLC took part in a community volunteer initiative aimed at introducing students to business operations and workforce fundamentals through an interactive education program in Rochester, New York.

The team joined a volunteer day at the Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center, where students from the Rochester City School District participated in the JA BizTown simulation. The program places students in structured, real-world scenarios where they take on roles such as business leaders, employees, and consumers to learn how organizations operate.

LeChase staff worked alongside employees from Buckingham Properties, guiding students through exercises focused on budgeting, workplace responsibilities, and financial decision-making.

Workforce exposure tied to long-term industry development

The initiative reflects a broader effort within the construction and real estate sectors to engage early with workforce development programs. By participating in experiential learning events, contractors and developers aim to introduce students to career pathways that include construction management, engineering, and project delivery roles.

LeChase’s involvement is also connected to its prior role in delivering the Discovery Center project itself, where the firm served as design-builder for the facility that opened in 2024. That connection adds an additional layer of industry relevance to the educational programming hosted at the site.

Industry context: growing emphasis on early talent pipelines

Across the construction industry, firms are increasingly investing in outreach programs that connect K–12 students with real-world job functions. Labor shortages in skilled trades and project management roles have pushed contractors to participate in apprenticeship pipelines, career academies, and hands-on simulation programs like JA BizTown.

Programs like this are often seen as long-term strategies to strengthen workforce pipelines, particularly in regions where construction demand is expected to remain steady due to healthcare, education, and infrastructure development projects.

What this means for construction owners and contractors

For owners and contractors, initiatives like this serve a dual purpose: community engagement and workforce development.

Key implications include:

• Stronger visibility for construction careers among younger students
• Early-stage pipeline development for skilled labor and management roles
• Enhanced contractor reputation within public and institutional project markets
• Increased collaboration between developers, builders, and local education systems

As competition for skilled labor continues, engagement in workforce education programs is becoming a strategic component of long-term talent acquisition in the construction sector.

Originally reported by LeChase.