2011 was the first year for the Kotzebue Regional Construction Academy. Classes were coordinated through the Northwest Arctic Borough School District, Alaska Technical Center. They offered an intensive 22 day class in June, 2011. The classes ran Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 9:00pm. Training included an overview of the construction industry and the career opportunities in a number of specialty areas.

The students were from the communities of Kivalina, Buckland, Kiana, Noatak, Ambler, Kotzebue, and Selawik. Students were encouraged to participate in further training and were provided job search assistance. Class participants had the opportunity to meet employers and to share their resumes.