The Building Industry Association (BIA) of Hawaii has announced that they are providing $100,000 of funding to the Youth Build Green Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program (Green PACT) as part of a strategic partnership with the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. The funding will support Green PACT’s workforce training initiatives for underserved students seeking to pursue careers in construction.
Green PACT provides training and financial support for unemployed and underemployed young adults to help them develop the skills necessary for employment in environmentally friendly construction settings. The program intends to facilitate more access to construction trades for underprivileged students through an equitable and inclusionary training program.
Green PACT training sessions will provide 2,500 training hours for two student group cohorts spanning three months. The student cohort for FY2024 will consist of 12 students, and the FY2025 cohort will have eight students, for a total of 20 students.
“BIA is committed to providing educational training opportunities to support our ongoing commitment to fostering the growth and development of the construction industry and empowering the youth of Hawaii,” said Roseann Freitas, CEO of BIA Hawaii in a press release. “BIA is proud to unveil our Green PACT program set to make a profound impact in 2024 and 2025. This program is a cornerstone of BIA’s educational initiatives offering participants an opportunity to earn nationally recognized certificates, further enhancing their career readiness and increasing their employability in the construction sector.”
BIA Hawaii is a not-for-profit trade organization chartered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) with more than 300 professional members including developers, contractors, suppliers, realtors and associates.
The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is a philanthropic organization that awards approximately $150 million in grants annually to help support the basic needs of people experiencing poverty. The foundation is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii and Baltimore, Maryland.
