The Gulf Coast’s much-bemoaned shortage of qualified construction workers has gotten the attention of the Tampa Builders Workforce Alliance, which plans to host a free event Sept. 13 designed to link contractors, subcontractors and suppliers with organizations that help train and place employees.

Taking place from 2-4 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 4328 Garden Vista Drive, Riverview, the first Construction Connection follows on the heels of a similar event held in May by the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange in the Sarasota-Manatee market. Dubbed the Construction Rodeo, that event drew representatives from 50 area companies looking to give their workforce a boost. Some 350 prospective potential employees — mostly students — also attended.

Construction Connection isn’t a job fair, per se, but if it’s anything like the Construction Rodeo, more than a few offers of employment will be made and accepted. Organizers say Construction Connection is a prime chance for hiring staff, supervisors and other management personnel to build up a pool of talent from which to draw. Career development agencies from Polk to Manatee counties will be represented, making it a way for construction companies to find talented workers who hail from outside their immediate vicinity.

More than 15 organizations are scheduled to attend the Construction Connection. The list includes Future Builders of America; Manatee Technical College; Marchman Technical College in Pasco County; the Tampa Housing Authority YouthBuild Program; The Pinellas Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition; and three different CareerSource organizations.