IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2014
Contact: Sandra Rodriguez (860) 899-3462
“New Britain YouthBuild to Provide Training and Jobs for 70 Young People
Who May Be Interested in Construction Related Careers –
and Will Build Homes for Five Families
NEW BRITAIN – Announced in Mid-August, Capital Workforce Partners was the recipient of a
$1.1 million* grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, to enroll and train 70 youth who are currently not
connected to school or work. They program as set the goals high in connecting otherwise “disconnected 18-24
year olds” back to education and or jobs. A minimum of:
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92% will earn industry recognized credentials;
64% will earn a GED or equivalent;
80% will achieve literacy and numeracy gains;
71% will advance to post-secondary education, a registered apprenticeship or employment;
85% will retain education or employment for a minimum of 6 months;
the recidivism rate for court-involved youth will be less than half the national average.
At the same time, the project will result in the building of five (5) single family affordable houses in New Britain
neighborhoods: on Willow St., Newington Avenue, and Fairview Street:
Partners and collaborators in this project include: the City of New Britain (access to worksites, and participant
recruitment); Finishing Trades Institute of Southern New England (hands-on occupational training); Hartford
Area Habitat for Humanity (lead in the construction of the five single family homes, including needed resources);
New Britain Adult Education (I-BEST curriculum developer) and the Human Resources Agency of New Britain
(case management, placement and retention). Capital Workforce Partners serves as project lead and fiscal
agent and has assigned Julia Jack as the Full Time Project Director for this initiative. Ms. Jack’s most recent
assignment was that of program supervisor for the New Britain Jobs Funnel where she has also produced
comprehensive monthly inventories on construction projects in the region. Ms. Jack holds a Bachelor’s degree
in Architecture and a Master’s in Construction Management.
QUOTES
"I'm very proud to help secure the $1.1 million grant for the YouthBuild Project in New Britain, which
supports critical job-training and apprenticeship programs. The YouthBuild Project will train young people
with the skills they need to get good-paying jobs right here in Connecticut. Apprenticeships are a proven
way to develop a new generation of workers helping our economy grow and our communities flourish.”
~ Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, CT 5th District
“This $1.1 million federal grant is a win-win not only for the 70 disconnected youth who will receive this vital
education and training, but for the residents of the Willow Street, Newington Avenue and Fairview Street
neighborhoods who will receive new beautiful, affordable single-family homes for five families. I was proud
to support this grant application and commend Capital Workforce Partners, the City of New Britain, the
Finishing Trades Institute of Southern New England, Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity, New Britain Adult
Education and the Human Resources Agency of New Britain for their leadership and collaboration in making
this YouthBuild project a successful reality. This project should serve as a model for efforts statewide and
nationally and will provide tangible benefits in growing jobs, redeveloping neighborhoods and providing
sustainable employment skills. As we work to rebuild our economy, I will continue to work to secure
additional federal funding for similar efforts.” ~ Senator Richard Blumenthal
The kids I meet with all across Connecticut are crying out for opportunities to better themselves and build
skills to help them get ahead. They know it's a tough economy out there, but it's organizations like
YouthBuild Project in New Britain that give them a chance to make it. This grant is a really big deal - it will
allow YouthBuild to expand its work and provide young people with new training opportunities that will
make them better candidates for a variety of jobs, especially in the construction industry. I was proud to
fight for this funding and I can't wait to see the thousands of lives that are going to be changed by this
funding. ~ Senator Chris Murphy
“New Britain is thrilled to continue our productive partnership with Capital Workforce Partners. This grant
will provide critical training to our young people, making them more marketable and more competitive for
today’s jobs, and is bringing five new, single-family homes to the Willow Street area. My thanks goes out to
Tom Phillips, the Greater New Britain Chamber of Commerce, and the members of our federal delegation,
for their help in bringing this wonderful program to our City.” ~ Mayor Erin E. Stewart
“We are proud of our successful Jobs Funnel Program and the sophisticated construction project inventory
that we maintain to assess planned work and project future occupational demand. Gaining this grant is a
testament to the solid model we have built and proven over the years.” ~ Thomas Phillips, President and
CEO of Capital Workforce Partners
*This grant was matched with $275,000 from Habitat for Humanity.
The Training
New Britain YouthBuild will leverage two integrated, evidence-based construction
training models operated by Capital Workforce Partners and Construction Jobs Funnel
pre-apprenticeship program, and will be supported by diverse industry and community
partners. This program provides an existing, and proven service infrastructure for
assessment, case management, support services, basic and technical skills training, and job placement and
retention services. The training will be administered using a contextualized learning model known as the I-BEST
(Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) – a model that fuses professional-technical construction training
with literacy education.
All classroom and onsite instruction will integrate training in the eight employer-validated Career
Competencies, core skills and abilities that have been recognized by the Center for Law and Social Policy
(CLASP) as a national model. During each training cycle, YouthBuild cohorts will receive academic instruction
(50%) of their time and occupational skills training at training centers and at the work sites (40%), as well as
service learning, work readiness and career exploration activities (10%). Participants will also receive leadership
development training.
Certifications
YouthBuild hands-on occupational training will result in up to twelve (12) industry-recognized credentials:
1. OSHA 10
2. CPR
3. Fork lift
4. Aerial lift
5. Fall protection
6. Lead worker
7. Lead safety
8. Scaffold erector and dismantler
9. Ergonomics
10. Respirator fit test
11. Basic blueprint reading
12. Green tradesman
The Youth
The youth participants will be difficult to find as they will be currently disconnected from either school or
employment. All referrals for youth to this program are encouraged. Both New Britain community agencies –
Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain and HRA of New Britain will refer eligible youth as will the
city’s Jobs Funnel program and CTWorks Career Center. Additionally, the Department of Children and Families
and the State of Connecticut Court Support Services Division will also provide referrals. Further, a dual
language recruitment strategy will ensure diverse and full enrollment, including youth with limited English
proficiency. (According to a 2011-2012 Strategic School Profile, 17% of students at New Britain High School are
not fluent in English.)
This program is aligned with New Britain’s “Work Plan to End Homelessness” as well as the New Britain District
Improvement Plan. YouthBuild training will last 8 months. A Master’s degree teacher will deliver all academic
instruction, and hands-on occupational training will be provided by industry-certified instructors from the
Finishing Trades Institute of Southern New England. Representative from colleges and trade schools will also
present about relevant post-secondary programs, and their academic requirements and associated career paths.
INTERESTED YOUTH?
Interested 18-24 year old, New Britain residents will be able to apply for this program online at:
www.capitalworkforce.org/nbyouth
…beginning September 2, 2014. Please help get the word out.
Capital Workforce Partners - the region’s Workforce Investment Board, leverages public and private resources to produce
skilled workers for a competitive regional economy. They play a significant role in developing the region’s “future
workforce” and advocating for support and development of youth employment training opportunities.
www.capitalworkforce.org
Hartford’s Construction Jobs Funnel - established in 1999, this pre-employment program has trained over 2,500 people in the
Construction and related trades. It has been cited by the Aspen Institute as a national exemplar for training low-income and
disadvantaged populations with barriers to employment (i.e. felony convictions, substance abuse, limited work history, low
educational attainment), and providing a pathway for this population to enter registered apprenticeship programs in construction
careers. Jobs Funnel programs provide assessment, case management, support services, basic and technical skills training, and job
placement and retention services.
YouthBuild - is a non-residential, community-based alternative education program that provides classroom instruction and
occupational skills training to youth ages 16 to 24 who have been in the juvenile justice system, are aging out of foster care, have
dropped out of high school or are otherwise at-risk of failing to reach key educational and career milestones. The classroom training
component leads to a high school diploma, general education development or other state-recognized equivalency diploma. The
occupational skills training component provides YouthBuild participants with industry-recognized certifications in construction or
other in-demand occupations, such as health care and information technology. Leadership development and community service are
also key elements of the YouthBuild program, helping to ensure that participants maintain a connection to their communities
through public service and volunteerism. For more information about the Department of Labor’s YouthBuild program, visit dol.gov.
The Grant – The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $73,654,300 in YouthBuild grants nationwide to support
academic and occupational skills training for opportunity youth. “YouthBuild offers thousands of young people the tools, resources
and opportunities they need to punch their ticket to the middle class,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “These federal
grants are part of our broader effort to invest in the future of our nation’s youth and help them climb the ladder of opportunity.”
The grants ranged from approximately $700,000 to $1.1 million each to fund 71 YouthBuild programs across 31 states, the District
of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. New Britain received the maximium award level. They will help approximately 4,800 young
people obtain the certifications and skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Along with the programs receiving funding
today, the Labor Department now actively funds 322 YouthBuild programs around the country.
IN NEW BRITAIN, CT
New Britain Adult Education