Atlanta wins $1.1M grant for youth vocational program

The Atlanta Workforce Development Agency has been awarded a $1.1 million federal grant for its YouthBuild educational and vocational training program for out-of-school young people.

YouthBuild enrolls at-risk persons ages 16 to 24 to work on high school or state equivalency degrees while earning industry-recognized certifications in in-demand occupations. They also gain construction skills as they build housing for low-income or homeless individuals and families.

Atlanta’s grant was among $80.3 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to 77 YouthBuild programs in 35 states. It was the third such grant the city has received since 2012. The local program has helped 120 individuals over the last four years.