Built for This: Year-Round Pathways to Building Trades Image Make a Gift Give from my Community Foundation Fund

Built for This: Year-Round Pathways to Building Trades

Interest Areas: Certification/Ongoing Training | Employment/Workforce Development | Job Placement | Youth
Goal: $100,000
Funding Deadline: December 31, 2026
Giving Type: Timely Need

Project Description

Young people in Des Moines deserve pathways to family-sustaining careers without the burden of student debt. Forest Avenue Outreach’s Built for This program expands our proven Pathways to Building Trades summer intensive into a year-round model. Anchored in the 50314 neighborhoods and in partnership with Burns United Methodist Church and the Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades, this program will:

- Serve students annually through weekend training, summer intensives, and online learning.
- Provide OSHA and MC3 certifications plus hands-on skill development.
- Offer mentorship, interview prep, case management, and wraparound supports.
- Prepare youth for 100% placement into apprenticeships and trades jobs.

By locating the program in historically under-resourced neighborhoods and leveraging our innovative online platform, Built for This ensures equitable access for youth across Des Moines. Together, we can transform neighborhoods into hubs of opportunity and prepare the next generation of builders for Greater Des Moines.