YouthBuild grants fund pre-apprenticeship programs to prepare young people for workforce
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $99 million in funding to support the delivery of pre-apprenticeships in high-demand industries including construction, clean energy, healthcare, infrastructure, information technology and hospitality.
The YouthBuild Program grants provide academic support, occupational skills training and employment services to young people, ages 16 to 24, in communities where they face persistent barriers to academic and career skills development.
In alignment with the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, the program leverages the administration’s historic federal investments to help create good jobs and support a range of community needs, such as affordable housing and conservation. The YouthBuild grants will also support the department’s Youth Employment Works strategy, which seeks to ensure young people find “no wrong door” when accessing employment and supportive services.
Managed by the department’s Employment and Training Administration and authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the YouthBuild Program will fund individual grants for approximately 75 projects, with each grant ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million.
Previous YouthBuild grants have supported initiatives in sectors including construction, information technology and the care economy, such as:
- In Georgia, Georgia Building Trades Academy works with 19 affiliated construction unions and their Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees to thoroughly prepare participants for direct entry into Registered Apprenticeships upon graduation.
- In Texas, CLC Inc. partners with Housing Channel, a builder serving low-income residents and people experiencing homelessness, to recruit and train participants in construction while they build homes for community members in need. The program also offers training in welding, manufacturing, logistics and aircraft assembly.
- In Illinois, YouthBuild Lake County has expanded to become a Registered Apprenticeship sponsor and training provider in Facilities Maintenance Repair. Participants can earn the Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician credential and placement with employers such as the Lake County Housing Authority and other residential management companies.
- In Idaho, Community Council of Idaho connects participants with outreach advisors at the College of Southern Idaho to assist those interested in pursuing an associate degree. YouthBuild graduates who earn a high school diploma or GED also have access to a scholarship that covers two years of attendance at the college.
Learn more about the YouthBuild Funding Opportunity and apply.
