National Gypsum Helps Gulf Coast Residents
Build New Careers

The question at the Roundtable: How can we really help build a new beginning for Hurricane Katrina victims?

Our collective answer: Train them to build their own homes and new careers in construction.

With the help of National Gypsum Company and a consortium of business partners, those Gulf Coast homeless and unemployed will be wielding hammers and wallboard, as they become well-trained construction employees. Not only will these "construction grads" help rebuild the devastation surrounding them, but they'll have a trade that will offer them a living for the rest of their lives.

"This partnership will not only aid in the recovery of the region, but also will provide the necessary skills to allow local residents to develop careers and well-paying jobs in the construction industry," says Tom Nelson, CEO of National Gypsum Company.

This construction training initiative, involving business, government and trade organizations, is led by the Business Roundtable, a group of 160 CEOs from the nation's leading companies - including National Gypsum Company. Nelson, a business Roundtable member, is contributing $100,000 to the program through the Spangler Foundation.

Those participating in the program will enroll in a four-week course that teaches entry-level skills for construction jobs. The Business Roundtable hopes to offer advanced construction workshops and apprenticeships in the future.

Currently, there is a void of 20,000 construction workers in the Gulf Coast needed to help rebuild after the destruction of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"This program is a good example of the progress being made to employ the residents of the coast in the ongoing work of rebuilding the communities in which they live," says Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran.

Last Year, Hurrican Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast on August 29. Hurricane Rita slammed into the area on September 22. National Gypsum contributed $500,000 to help with hurricane relief efforts at that time.

Headquartered in Charlotte, National Gypsum is a leading supplier of wallboard, interior finishing products, and cement board to the construction industry. It has a network of 20 wallboard plants in North America, in addition to interior finishing products and cement board plants, paper mills, and gypsum mines and quarries.

October 27, 2006