YouthBuild Indy: Providing Opportunities for Young People in the Construction Industry

YouthBuild Indy offers paid training and career preparation to young people with a focus on construction skills training

YouthBuild Indy

The construction industry is predicted to add 700 positions in Marion County over the next five years, and to address this demand, the YouthBuild Indy program in Indianapolis is offering paid training for young people who are not in college and not yet in the workforce. The program aims to recruit an estimated 30,000 young people in Marion County who fall into this category.

YouthBuild Indy offers an 18-week program where participants can earn up to $6,300 while receiving hands-on construction training, earning a high school equivalency, and earning college credit. The program also teaches life skills and career preparation to its 18-to-24-year-old participants.

One visible example of the program’s success is a group of young people in Haughville who are building a home in their neighborhood as part of the program. The program manager, Troy Turner, explained that YouthBuild Indy not only teaches life and construction skills but also opens doors for participants.

The program provides training from scratch and starts with the basics, such as how to read a tape measure and perform work safely. Students leave the program with advanced skills that can help them enter a construction career or any other career path they may choose. The program’s participants gain valuable skills and work ethics that can benefit them on any career path, according to Rodney Francis, chief program officer with Employ Indy.

YouthBuild Indy is currently recruiting for its next program session, which starts in September. The program is seeking participants aged 18 to 24 who have not completed high school. In just 14 weeks, participants can learn the fundamentals of construction, along with other valuable skills that can help them pursue a career in this field.

Erwin Chavac, an alumnus of YouthBuild Indy, has attested to the positive impact the program has had on his life. Before joining the program, Chavac worked as a painter with his father. However, through YouthBuild Indy, he was able to become a carpenter and now helps others in the same way. Program manager Troy Turner, who has been an instructor with the program for over 15 years, is passionate about helping young people develop the skills they need to succeed.

YouthBuild Indy opens registration

YouthBuild Indy is funded by EmployIndy, the local workforce board for the region, and is also supported by the Department of Labor. The program focuses on building and repairing homes in areas that need it most, while also building up the young men and women involved in the program. Overall, YouthBuild Indy provides an opportunity for young people to gain valuable skills, build a foundation for their future, and positively impact their community.

This year’s program participants De’Angelo Huggins and Melvontay Elliot expressed their desire to do better for themselves and improve their future careers through the program. YouthBuild Indy offers young people in Indianapolis a second chance to improve their education and future careers in the construction industry.

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