Senator Baucus Applauds Additional Support for Youth Education and Jobs Training Program

YouthBuild Program http://www.youthbuild.org at MSU-Northern will Bolster Construction Jobs for Montana Teens

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced today MSU-Northern is set to receive an education and job training grant to boost the YouthBuild program. This program provides job training and educational opportunities for out-of-school youth while they work on construction projects in rural and Native American Communities.

"This funding is great news for Montana," said Baucus. "The YouthBuild program teaches teens valuable job skills and makes a real difference for students in need. Smart investments like this lay the groundwork for Montana’s economic future by putting young people to work in the construction industry. I’m pleased to see Montana students take advantage of this opportunity. "

"I have been involved in education for 40 years, and I have never seen a program that has touched the lives of so many students. The hardships some of these students have faced is truly remarkable, and this program gives them the opportunity to get their lives back on track," said Greg Kegel, Dean of MSU-Northern’s College of Technical Sciences.

The students will split their time between construction jobs and the classroom, while they earn their GED, high school diploma, or college credits. Students will also have the opportunity to learn trade and occupational skills while working with Opportunity Link and District IV Human Resource Development Council weatherization programs. In addition to receiving academic and occupational skills training, young people develop leadership skills and participate in community service opportunities.

The U.S. Department of Labor Department (DOL) has administered YouthBuild http://www.youthbuild.org since 2006, awarding its first grants in 2007. In that time, more than 16,000 young people have participated in programs in 45 states and the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. YouthBuild participants include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and others.

The DOL held a competition for applications in fall 2010. A first round of awardees was announced in March 2011. Today, MSU-Northern is one of 74 grantees set to receive the YouthBuild grant.