U.S. Dept. of Labor awards Richmond YouthBUILD $1.2M

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U.S. Dept. of Labor awards Richmond YouthBUILD $1.2M
Fred Lucero, program manager for RichmondBUILD and Richmond YouthBUILD, speaks at the YouthBUILD graduation in June 2021 (Photo by Kathy Chouteau)

The Richmond YouthBUILD program has been refunded with a nearly $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Department of Labor announced today grants totaling nearly $90.4 million to help fund Youth Build programs throughout the nation. Such programs “prepare young adults not enrolled in school or participating in the labor market for jobs in construction and other in-demand industries through apprenticeship and other career pathways, especially jobs that support clean energy technologies,” the federal government said.

Richmond YouthBUILD offers its services to local residents ages 16 to 24. The program enables participants to overcome at-risk backgrounds to earn their high school diplomas through John Muir Charter School, while concurrently receiving free training in construction careers and industry-recognized certifications.

YouthBUILD continues to accept applications. For more information, contact Fred Lucero, Program Manager, at [email protected], call (510) 6211780, or visit the RichmondBUILD website.

RichmondBUILD, a similar program that is geared toward at-risk, low-income adults, is celebrating its 15th straight year of training local community members for high-paying careers.

The city launched RichmondBUILD in 2007 as a public-private partnership “focused on developing talent and skill in the high growth, high wage construction and renewable energy fields,” officials said. 

The program’s reputation for placing graduates in well-paying jobs makes it competitive, with more applicants than seats available.