Project Grant 23A60YB000030

PROJECT SUMMARY: CHANGE INC.S YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM WILL SERVE 75 PARTICIPANTS (AGES 18-24) ACROSS TWO COHORTS WITH TRAINING IN EITHER CONSTRUCTION OR HEALTHCARE CAREER PATHWAYS. PARTICIPANTS WORK TOWARDS INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS AS THEY COMPLETE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS. TRAINING IS PROVIDED ON-SITE AND WITH EMPLOYER PARTNERS. THE YOUTHBUILD CONSTRUCTION CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM FOR THIS GRANT PERIOD WILL CULMINATE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AT LOT 452 PAGE STREET EAST, SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, FOR WHICH WE PLAN TO BREAK GROUND INTHE SUMMER OF 2023. AFTER EXITING, WE PROVIDE AT LEAST 12 MONTHS OF JOB SEARCH SUPPORT AND FOLLOW-UP. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES IN-HOUSE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS SUCH AS MENTORING, TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES, AND CASE MANAGEMENT. THE MAJORITY OF PARTICIPANTS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND MANY ARE RECENT IMMIGRANTS REFUGEES WHO ARE ALSO ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.FUNDING LEVEL REQUESTED: 1,500,000INTENDED USE OF FUND: FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR STAFFING IN OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING IN CONSTRUCTION AND HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING SALARIES AND FRINGE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PARTICIPANT SUPPORT FOR BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION PARTICIPANT STIPENDS AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS FOR PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION.DELIVERABLES OUTCOMES: 75 PARTICIPANTS SERVED ACROSS TWO COHORTS 56 PARTICIPANTS (75 ) WILL BE PLACED INTO EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATION IN 2ND QUARTER AFTER EXIT 45 PARTICIPANTS (60 ) WILL BE PLACED INTO EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATION IN 4TH QUARTER AFTER EXIT EXITED MEDIAN EARNINGS FOR PARTICIPANTS AT 20 HR 75 OF PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS IN CONSTRUCTION OR HEALTHCARE 75 OF PARTICIPANTS WILL ATTAIN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA 65 OF PARTICIPANTS WILL DISPLAY MEASURABLE SKILLS GAINS AT LEAST 50 OF PARTICIPANTS WILL DISPLAY EFFECTIVENESS INCOST SHARING OR MATCHING FUNDS AMOUNT): 375,000APPLICANT CATEGORY: CATEGORY A (PREVIOUSLY FUNDED)CONSTRUCTION PLUS OCCUPATIONAL FIELD(S), IF APPLICABLE: HEALTHCAREAPPLICATION IS BEING SUBMITTED AS: URBANDESCRIPTION OF THE AREA TO BE SERVED: CHANGE INC.S YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM IS LOCATED IN THE WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SAINT PAUL, MN. ACTIVITIES ARE BASED AT OUR GAP SCHOOL FACILITY AND TRAINING ALSO OCCURS AT OUR EMPLOYER SITES ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES. PARTICIPANTS COME FROM THE ZIP CODES LISTED BELOW, ALL OF WHICH ARE IN URBAN SAINT PAUL AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO GAP SCHOOL.TARGET COMMUNITY SERVICE AREA, IDENTIFIED BY ZIP CODE(S): 55106, 55107, 55117, 55130SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES (IF APPLICABLE): NOT APPLICABLE.SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT: THE GOAL OF THE YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM IS TO PREPARE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO GAIN FAMILY SUPPORTING EMPLOYMENT IN HIGH-DEMAND POSITIONS IN THE BUILDING TRADES OR HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, AND OR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING THAT WILL FURTHER THEIR CAREER IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD. CHANGE INC.S YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM WORKS TO HELP UNDERSERVED YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR OVERCOME EDUCATION AND CAREER BARRIERS, INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND INCREASE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS THROUGH MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT.IF THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING PRIORITY CONSIDERATION - SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, NAME THE TRAINING IN SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN TECHNIQUES: SPECIFIC TO THE YOUTHBUILD CONSTRUCTION CAREERS PATHWAY, PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES AS ONE MODULE IN THE MC3 CURRICULUM. THE DESIGN OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME WORKSITE IS LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED) CERTIFICATION ELIGIBLE. AS PARTICIPANTS ARE ON-SITE, THEY LEARN ABOUT GREEN PRACTICES RELATED TO INSULATION, HEATING COOLING, AND INCORPORATION OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PRACTICES IN BOTH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE AND THE USE OF CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL IN MINNESOTA TO BOTH EDUCATE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS GAIN LEED CERTIFICATION.