The Manhattan Housing Authority and UFM Community Learning Center are receiving a $1.5 million grant to support a local pre-apprenticeship program.
The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced $90 million in funds to workforce development programs nationwide. MHA’s YouthBuild program will train young people in construction, allowing anyone from ages 16 to 24 to learn about builds and rehabilitations of affordable housing.
Executive Director Aaron Estabrook spoke about the goal of the program on a recent edition of KMAN’s In Focus.
The program will be open to young people aged 16 to 24, who will divide their time between classroom instruction and workplace training.
“The local non-profit collaborations are what make this so special. Connecting affordable housing and workforce development is a game-changer for the community,” said UFM Community Learning Center Executive Director Aliah Mestrovich Seay in a Thursday news release.
Over the next 20 years, Manhattan is projected to need in excess of 3,000 new homes, according to the city’s 2023 Market Analysis.
