Reps. Doggett & Castro Announce Pre-Apprenticeship Grant to SA Youth

San Antonio, Texas – Today, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-San Antonio) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) announced that the U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $1.1 million pre-apprenticeship grant to SA Youth, which serves at-risk individuals throughout San Antonio.

"Expanding our skilled workforce is essential to strengthening our economy here in Central Texas," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett. "By providing youth an opportunity to gain job-training, SA Youth is helping to break the cycle of poverty so that more Texans can obtain liveable-wage jobs and advance into the middle class. This designation will further support SA Youth's YouthBuild Program mission to improve educational achievement and develop healthy lifestyles. I commend the work of President and CEO Asia Ciaravino and her team for their service and dedication to providing young people the opportunity to not only earn their high school diploma or GED, but also prepare them for the workforce. "

"We are thrilled about this opportunity and what it means to our city," said Asia Ciaravino President & CEO of SA Youth. "Over the course of this funding cycle, 65 young adults in San Antonio who have left the traditional school system will be able to earn their GED or high school diploma while receiving workforce training in the high growth construction industry. Two families will find their forever homes built by our participants on the city's eastside in the Promise Zone."

"YouthBuild grows the talent pool available to San Antonio employers while allowing young people to earn degrees and certifications for in-demand occupations. I'm thrilled that San Antonio students will have new opportunities to gain essential skills to succeed and access higher paying jobs," said Rep. Joaquin Castro. "This program helps expand the local workforce, reduce poverty, grow our city's economy, and transform lives in our community for the better."

YouthBuild is a program of SA Youth, a nationwide pre-apprenticeship program that helps at-risk youth, ages 16-24, complete high school or state equivalency degrees, earn industry-recognized certifications for in-demand occupations, and undergo training to build housing for low-income or homeless individuals and families in their communities. YouthBuild has a network of approximately 260 active urban and rural YouthBuild grants in 46 states.