"ABC of Georgia members are very excited about the opportunity that Gov. Deal's new Go Build Georgia initiative offers our industry and young adults looking for a great career path," Bill Anderson, president of the ABC of Georgia, said in an email statement.

"The shortage of skilled craft workers in the construction industry has been a challenge for two decades and possibly even longer," Anderson added. "Go Build Georgia will not only help our industry, but most importantly will help individuals find exciting and very rewarding jobs and careers in construction."

ABC assisted in the founding of the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia in the early 1990s, and that group will work with Go Build Georgia, says Anderson.

Georgia's Associated General Contractors chapter injected a note of pragmatism. "AGC members are prepared to support this effort, but will want assurances that they will get a return on their Go Build Georgia investment," e-mailed Mark Woodall, the association's director of governmental affairs.

Rowe summed up the program with a quip, saying: "When we launched [Go Build] Alabama, I said I wanted to go down the alphabet and challenge every state in the nation to send the message that America needs young people willing to master a trade and help us build our future. I applaud Georgia for sending that message to people across the Peach State, even if they’re not next in line alphabetically."

This article was updated on 1/22/12.