A construction job training program that helps at-risk students finish their high school education got another round of federal funding with a $1 million grant from the federal Department of Labor grant.
The grant, to LearningWorks, will benefit its longrunning Youth Building alternatives program.
“YouthBuild programs provide young people in Maine and across the country with the tools and resources they need to grow, learn, and succeed,” Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King said in a joint statement. “This funding will help LearningWorks support its students and – in turn – help strengthen our state’s workforce and economy in the years to come.”
The program is aimed at at-risk youths between 16 and 24 years old, who are trained while constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing for low-income or homeless families in their own neighborhoods. The youths split their time between the construction site and the classroom.
“This program is often the last stop for young people who have profound needs and are struggling to make the transition to adulthood,” said LearningWorks Executive Director Heather Davies. “We are lucky to work with the students in this program and watch them transform.”
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