Affiliated Construction Trades

What Affiliated Construction Trades does

Affiliated Construction Trades (operating as the WV Building & Construction Trades Council, DBA "WVBCT") is a West Virginia-based non-profit labor council founded in 2002 and affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The organization functions as the coordinating body for 33 local unions representing 15 construction crafts — Boilermakers, Bricklayers, Carpenters, Cement Masons, Electricians, Insulators, Iron Workers, Laborers, Millwrights, Operating Engineers, Industrial Painters, Pipe Fitters, Roofers, Sheet Metal Workers, and Teamsters — and connects prospective apprentices with union-affiliated earn-while-you-learn training programs available across all 55 West Virginia counties.

Its core offering is an apprenticeship program platform jointly administered by craft unions and union contractors, supplemented by a dedicated pathway called the STAND Program. The organization does not charge tuition; apprentices are paid wages during on-the-job training combined with related classroom instruction. Recruitment is conducted through a website (wvtrades.org), an interactive county-by-county directory, social media channels (Facebook, X, YouTube), and the "ACT Report" newsletter. Distribution runs through 33 local union affiliates and a network of at least nine named contractor partners, including BBL Carlton, G&G Builders, Neighborgall Construction, Nitro Construction Services, Oval Construction Management, Dougherty Company, SA Comunale, Tri-State, and EMC.

Revenue mechanics are not disclosed and the entity operates as a member-driven labor organization rather than a commercial enterprise. The organization supplements its apprenticeship mission with regulatory advocacy, most recently a public comment campaign before the WV Public Service Commission in support of the proposed Maidsville Energy Center, which it cites as a potential source of 2,100+ construction jobs. Its scope is exclusively intra-state (West Virginia, USA) and its headcount is in the 11-50 range, consistent with a small coordinating council.

Name

Affiliated Construction Trades

Legal name

WV Building & Construction Trades Council

Website

https://actwv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Affiliated Construction Trades (WV Building & Construction Trades Council) is a West Virginia non-profit labor council coordinating 33 local unions across 15 construction trades, connecting prospective apprentices with union-affiliated earn-while-you-learn training programs statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Trades Apprenticeship Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH)

Keywords

• Construction apprenticeships
• Skilled trades training
• Union labor programs
• Workforce development services
• Earn-while-you-learn

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Affiliated Construction Trades operates as the WV Building & Construction Trades Council, coordinating union-affiliated apprenticeship programs across 15 construction crafts and 33 local unions in all 55 West Virginia counties. Apprentices earn wages during on-the-job training paired with classroom instruction, with no tuition charged to participants. Programs are jointly managed by committees of craft unions and union contractors who provide employment pathways.

Product overview

The WV Building & Construction Trades (also referred to as Affiliated Construction Trades or ACT) is a council representing construction trade unions that operates as an apprenticeship program organization rather than a technology product company. The core offering consists of apprenticeship programs across fifteen different construction trades/crafts. The primary programs include the general apprenticeship program connecting individuals with union-affiliated apprenticeship opportunities, and the STAND Program for specific apprenticeship pathways. The organization represents 33 local unions offering apprenticeships across all 55 West Virginia counties, providing earn-while-you-learn training in trades including Boilermakers, Bricklayers, Carpenters, Cement Masons, Electricians, Insulators, Iron Workers, Laborers, Millwrights, Operating Engineers, Industrial Painters, Pipe Fitters, Roofers, Sheet Metal Workers, and Teamsters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WV Building & Construction Trades Apprenticeship Program Statewide earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship program covering 15 construction crafts/trades including Boilermakers, Bricklayers, Carpenters, Cement Masons, Electricians, Insulators, Iron Workers, Laborers, Millwrights, Operating Engineers, Industrial Painters, Pipe Fitters, Roofers, Sheet Metal Workers, and Teamsters. Jointly managed by craft unions and union contractors; available across all 55 West Virginia counties through 33 local union affiliates. Apprentices are paid wages while receiving on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction, with no tuition charged.
• STAND Program Specialized apprenticeship pathway program administered by the WV Building & Construction Trades that provides training and a career-entry route into the construction trades for individuals in West Virginia.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BBL CarltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction contractor partner featured in the organization's partner showcase. BBL Carlton works with the WV Building & Construction Trades affiliated unions to provide employment opportunities for apprentices and journeyworkers in construction projects.
• G&G BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction contractor partner collaborating with affiliated trade unions to provide on-the-job training opportunities and employment for union apprentices and skilled tradespeople.
• Neighborgall ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional construction firm partner supporting union apprenticeship programs and providing employment pathways for skilled tradespeople in West Virginia.
• Nitro Construction ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction services company partnering with WV Building & Construction Trades to support apprenticeship training and provide job opportunities for union members.
• Oval Construction ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction management firm collaborating with affiliated unions to provide employment and training opportunities for apprenticeship program participants.
• Dougherty CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company partner working with the Building & Construction Trades Council to facilitate apprenticeship placements and union employment.
• SA ComunalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction contractor partner supporting union apprenticeship programs and providing on-the-job training and employment opportunities for skilled tradespeople.
• Tri-StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction industry partner collaborating with WV Building & Construction Trades to support apprenticeship training and union employment.
• EMCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction services partner providing employment and training opportunities in partnership with the Building & Construction Trades Council's apprenticeship network.
• AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational labor federation providing organizational support, resources, and advocacy for affiliated state and local building and construction trades councils like the WV Building & Construction Trades Council.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• SkillsUSA: National nonprofit serving middle-school, high-school, and college students preparing for skilled trades and technical careers. Operates a parallel pipeline of trade-career-ready candidates that may compete with or feed into union apprenticeship programs.
• International Training Institute (ITI) for HVACR: Joint labor-management apprenticeship training entity for the HVACR industry. Operates the same union-contractor joint apprenticeship model as ACT, though specialized to a single craft (sheet metal/HVACR).
• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): Industry-standard credentialing body for construction craft training. NCCER's portable, industry-recognized curricula compete with union apprenticeship programs at community colleges and non-union training centers for both candidates and contractor credibility.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National trade association representing open-shop (non-union) contractors. ABC runs its own apprenticeship programs that compete for the same apprentice candidates that union BCTCs recruit, representing the principal non-union alternative model.
• Helmets to Hardhats: Nonprofit that connects military veterans with apprenticeship opportunities in the union building trades. Comparable mission of routing candidates into union apprenticeship pathways, though focused on the veteran segment rather than general population.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Tech: For-profit technical and trade school operating across multiple U.S. states, offering HVAC, electrical, welding, and construction programs. Represents a private-sector, tuition-based alternative to ACT's no-tuition union apprenticeship pathway.
• North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU): National umbrella body for U.S. and Canadian construction trade unions. NABTU is the direct parent affiliation context for state-level BCTCs like ACT and operates national apprenticeship standards that ACT's programs align with.

Direct peers

• Kentucky State Building & Construction Trades Council: Kentucky's statewide BCTC, a neighboring Appalachian state building trades council operating the same model of joint union-contractor apprenticeship programs across multiple crafts.
• PA State Building & Construction Trades Council: Pennsylvania's statewide building trades council, structurally identical to WV BCTC — represents multiple affiliated craft unions, runs joint apprenticeship programs with union contractors, and coordinates advocacy for construction job creation.
• Ohio State Building & Construction Trades Council: Ohio's statewide building trades council — directly comparable structure (affiliated craft unions, joint apprenticeship training, union contractor coordination, state-level advocacy campaigns).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WVSBT
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WVBuildingTrades
• Facebookm.facebook.com/people/WV-State-Building-Trades/100069352027446
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/affiliated-construction-trades

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Affiliated Construction Trades