Julie Su Acting United States Secretary of Labor | Official Website
The Department of Labor has announced the award of $98 million in grants to 72 organizations in 30 states and Guam to provide training and employment services to young people, with a focus on increasing apprenticeships in high-demand careers. The grants aim to prepare young workers for quality jobs and strengthen the nation's workforce to meet industry demands.
According to Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez, the YouthBuild grants will help young people acquire the skills and training needed to access the job opportunities created by President Biden's Investing in America agenda. Rodríguez emphasized that these investments ensure that youth and young adults can participate in the opportunities being generated by the administration.
Administered by the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, the YouthBuild grants support a pre-apprenticeship model that provides disadvantaged young people with occupational skills training, employment services, and educational guidance. The program focuses on green building techniques and prepares participants for postsecondary occupations in various industries, including healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, culinary arts, and hospitality.
The grants will also support the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing in communities for those in need. Participants in the YouthBuild program will divide their time between classroom instruction to earn their high school diploma or equivalency degree and workplace training.
The list of grant recipients includes organizations from various states, such as Bessemer Housing Authority in Alabama, City of Montgomery in Arizona, and Detroit Housing Commission in Michigan, among others. Each recipient will receive grants ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million to support pre-apprenticeships and training for young individuals aged 16-24 who are not enrolled in school or part of the labor market.
Overall, the Department of Labor's initiative aims to expand access to apprenticeship opportunities, prepare young workers for in-demand careers, and contribute to the development of a skilled workforce that can meet the needs of various industries.
