BTF and PEPA team up to widen installer pipeline

Building Talent Foundation and the Polymeric Exterior Products Association have launched a partnership to address shortages of qualified vinyl siding and polymeric exterior products installers in residential construction. The effort links PEPA’s training resources with BTF’s national job network, employer platform and hiring events across 27 markets. Why it matters: - Residential construction continues to face a shortage of qualified vinyl siding and polymeric exterior products installers. - The partnership is designed to connect more job seekers with industry-recognized training and faster access to employers. - PEPA member companies and their contractor networks gain a broader talent pipeline for exterior products work. What happened: - Building Talent Foundation and the Polymeric Exterior Products Association announced a new partnership on June 17, 2026. - The collaboration combines PEPA’s training and certification resources with BTF’s national workforce network. - BTF’s network includes JobsToBuild.com, more than 36,000 registered construction job seekers, more than 2,500 community and training partners, more than 3,600 employer partners, and hiring events in 27 markets. The details: - PEPA will make curriculum and resources from its VSI Certified Installer Program for vinyl siding installation available to BTF’s network of community and training partners. - PEPA members, including manufacturers, distributors, dealers, suppliers, installers, builders and contractor networks, will get no-cost access to JobsToBuild.com. - PEPA members can use the platform to post open roles, search candidates and connect with job seekers interested in construction careers. - PEPA members will also be invited to BTF hiring events across 27 markets. - BTF will provide a dedicated JobsToBuild.com landing page for PEPA members, plus employer onboarding support, technical assistance and user guidance. - The two organizations will share performance metrics tied to employer engagement and candidate activity. - The partnership also includes webinars, newsletters, email outreach, website features and direct communications to PEPA members and industry partners. Between the lines: - BTF’s candidate network includes opportunity youth, veterans, women, returning citizens and other groups historically underrepresented in construction. - The partnership gives PEPA a direct channel to a broader workforce audience while giving BTF more industry-specific roles to fill. - Kate Offringa, PEPA’s president and CEO, said the collaboration will help more people discover career pathways in vinyl siding and exterior products installation. - Branka Minic, BTF’s CEO, said the effort combines certification resources with job seeker, training partner and employer networks to help more candidates pursue training and connect with companies that need talent. What’s next: - BTF and PEPA will keep coordinating outreach to employers, training partners and job seekers. - The organizations will continue tracking employer engagement and candidate activity as the partnership scales. - More PEPA members are expected to move into JobsToBuild.com and participate in BTF hiring events. The bottom line: - The partnership turns workforce training and recruiting into a single pipeline aimed at easing a specialized labor shortage in residential construction.