TAMPA, FL – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) announced $1,456,798 in federal grant funding awarded to the Corporation to Develop Communities (CDC) of Tampa, Inc. through the U.S. Department of Labor’s YouthBuild grant initiative. The new funding will support job training and employment services to expand access to apprenticeship opportunities, prepare young workers for quality jobs and strengthen the nation’s workforce to meet industry needs.

Photos and a recording of today’s press conference can be accessed here.

“I am grateful for the work of CDC of Tampa in preparing and connecting our young neighbors with good-paying jobs in growing industries, like construction,” said Rep. Castor. “This new grant funding from DOL will help expand economic opportunities for young people across the Tampa Bay area while growing the region’s skilled workforce and supporting the local economy.”

“As our economy continues to grow, expand and innovate, it is important we create pathways to employment for underrepresented youth in high-demand trades,” said Ernest M. Coney Jr., MPH, President & CEO, CDC of Tampa, Inc. “This important funding will help the CDC of Tampa increase employment opportunities, increase entrepreneurship opportunities and increase homeownership rates, helping lift all our communities.”

YouthBuild grants range from $700,000 to $1.5 million each and will support pre-apprenticeships to educate and train young people, ages 16-24, who are neither enrolled in school or now in the labor market for jobs in construction and other high-demand industries. YouthBuild grants will help deliver education and training to enable participants to build or rehabilitate affordable housing in their communities for people in need. This week’s announcement awarded $98 million in grants to 72 organizations in 30 states and Guam.