YOUTHBUILD KINGSPORT, TN;
December
1, 2007
YouthBuild
gets $700,000 federal grant - Local program aims to teach youths
skills while they work toward GEDs.
By John Thompson, Elizabethton Bureau Chief
jthompson@johnsoncitypress.com
For the second year
in a row, the Alliance for Business and Training has received a
grant for YouthBuild of Northeast Tennessee form the U.s.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. This year's grant
of $700,000 is nearly double last year's grant of $400,000.
Joe Wallen,
YouthBuild of Northeast Tennessee coordinator, said the money
will be used to build four new house using unskilled youths
between the ages of 16-24. The youths will build the homes for
half of their working day and spend the other half in the
classroom working toward their GED.
Wallen said the
houses will be build in Kingsport as part of the Hope Project,
which has received an $11 million grant for a major renovation
effort of houses in that city. Partners in the Alliance for
Business and Training Project, include the Kingsport Housing and
Redevelopment Authority, First Tennessee Development District
and Eastern Eight Community Development Corp.
Work won't get
started on those four houses for several months, Wallen said,
because it takes that long to complete all the administrative
requirements before the money can be drawn. But work, should be
starting in February on YouthBuild's projects from the first
grant, which include two new houses in Carter County.
Wallen said he is
recruiting workers. For more information, call him at 547-7515,
ext. 135. Wallen said the workers will not only learn building
skills, his office also works with local contractors to find
employment once they have completed the project.
YouthBuild is a national program funded by HUD. Since the
program's inception in 1993, more than $485 million in grants
have been awarded to public and private nonprofit organizations
that have trained more than 47,000 young people to construct and
rehabilitate more than 13,000 houses for homeless or very low
income people.
This year, HUD will
provide $45.5 million in grants that will enable 3,075 young
people to build 702 homes for low-income families.
Most of the
participants in the program are high school dropouts from very
low income families. The program does allow young people from
higher income families and those with a high school diploma to
participate if they have educational needs that justify their
inclusion.
YouthBuild of
Northeast Tennessee
April
17, 2007
The
Alliance
for Business and Training (AB&) has received two Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) YouthBuild Grants for
Kingsport and Washington/Carter Counties, Tennessee. YouthBuild
was awarded $700,000 (Kingsport,
TN)
and $400,000 (Carter County, TN) these grants are designed to
provide academic training and construction skills training to
youth between, the ages of 18 and 24. Program participants will
construct 6 new housing units for low income/homeless families.
The Carter County program partners include
First Tennessee Development District, Eastern Eight Community
Development Corporation, Tennessee Department of Labor and
Workforce Development, AB&T, Northeast Tennessee Youth Council,
Tennessee Technology Center, Jacobs Creek Job Corps,
Elizabethton City Schools, Carter County Board of Education,
Carter County Private Industry Council, Associated General
Contractors of Tennessee, General Shale, Junior Achievement
Tri-Cities, Elizabethton Housing Authority and Big John’s
Closeouts.
Youth will be recruited for both programs from
Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi, Johnson and
Washington Counties. Currently, the Carter County YouthBuild
program has enrolled approximately 25 participants and has began
construction on its first residence located at 310 East K Street,
Elizabethton,
TN.
YouthBuild is a comprehensive youth and
community development program that addresses core issues facing
low income and at risk youth: education, jobs, counseling, and
leadership development. YouthBuild participants are young men
and women who have dropped out of schools and have no apparent
path to a productive future.
“YouthBuild allows young people to
simultaneously serve their communities and build their own
future, “said Joe Wallen, YouthBuild of Northeast Tennessee
Coordinator. “Construction trades are traditionally one of the
nation’s most in-demand careers.”
Alliance
for Business and Training of Elizabethton, TN, will provide
administrative support and oversight for YouthBuild of Northeast
Tennessee. Participants will receive hands-on vocational
training in masonry, carpentry, drywall, painting, plumbing and
electrical. Students will also explore career
possibilities, community service, and leadership, in addition to
receiving classroom training toward their GED.
The program will provide physical
examinations, work clothing, safety gear, and personal hand
tools for all participants. Students may earn certificates
of competency in various construction trades and will receive
career counseling and job placement services following training.
“The
Alliance for Business and Training is excited to bring
YouthBuild to Northeast Tennessee and offer our students the
opportunity to improve their lives and their communities,” said
David Shanks, Executive Director. For more information or to
apply for YouthBuild of Northeast Tennessee, please contact Joe
Wallen at
(423)
547-7515,
Ext 135 or Lisa Evans at
(423)
547-7515,
Ext. 149.
TENNESSEE CENTER FOR PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD;
2006
The Tennessee
Center for Performance Excellence recently announced that the Alliance for
Business and Training of Elizabethton, Tennessee is a winner of the Achievement
Award in its annual recognition program.
AB&T, Alliance for Business and Training is a non
profit community based organization who is a leader in the field
of employment and training. AB&T has provided exemplary labor
market services to employers, job seekers, students, and
community stakeholders in the northeast Tennessee region for
nearly two decades. AB&T has become a benchmark for best
practice in public/private collaboration to ensure achievement
of economic development, skill training and labor market
enhancements for its five (5) counties in northeast Tennessee,
as well as for contiguous regions in western North Carolina and
southwest Virginia. The Corporate Board of AB&T consists of
George Jaynes,
Washington County,
Richard Venable,
Sullivan County,
Dick Grayson,
Johnson County,
Dale Fair,
Carter County,
Larry Rose,
Unicoi County.
County Mayors (County Mayors) and at-large business and
educational leaders such as Dr. Bill Locke, Northeast State
Community College, Larry Snider,
Eastman Chemical Company, Bob Nicar and Bob Cupp.
AB&T's services to the community include providing a workforce
development system that meets employer needs and fosters
economic growth and serves as staff to the Northeast Tennessee
Workforce Investment Board. The Northeast Tennessee Workforce
Investment Board (NETWIB) represents Carter, Johnson, Unicoi,
Sullivan and Washington counties of Tennessee, and serves as a
catalyst in bringing together major workforce development
stakeholders and provides strategic planning for employment and
training programs. The NETWIB is authorized by the Workforce
Investment Act, appointed by the local County Mayors with the
majority of the board from the private sector. The NETWIB
mission is:
To enhance economic development in Northeast Tennessee by
providing guidance and resources to meet employment needs. David
Shanks, Executive Director, of the Alliance for Business and
Training, Inc (AB&T) would like to thank Carol Trahan of
Spherion, April Eads of Bristol Electric, and Wallace
Grills of Tele-Optics for their expertise in assisting in the
development of AB&T’s quality system processes so to establish
innovating employment and training programs in Northeast
Tennessee.
The Tennessee
Center for Performance Center, through its annual evaluation and assessment
process, recognizes organizations that have achieved the highest standards of
excellence in their operation and results. The program uses the Criteria for
Performance Excellence established by the Baldrige National Quality Program as
the evaluation and education tool.
“It is an honor for me to
recognize and to offer my congratulations to all of these great Tennessee
companies that have demonstrated a commitment to excellence. “ Tennessee
Governor Phil Bredesen said. “The employees of each of these organizations are
to be commended for having set and met the standards for quality performance
that reflect positively on our state.” Award applicants are assessed in
seven categories: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus;
measurement,
analysis and knowledge management; human resource focus; process management; and
results.
“Excellence implies more than competence, “said Katie Rawls,
president of the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. “It means
striving for the highest possible standards. The 2004 Award winners represent
the best and have done a great service by setting high standards for others to
follow. I applaud their accomplishments.”
The Tennessee program, which is
itself a national and international role model, is open to all businesses as
well as public and private education institutions, health care organizations,
government agencies and other non-profit entities. Serving as chair of the 2004
Board of Directors is Dr. Michael Browder, General Manager, Bristol Tennessee
Electric
System. For more information about Alliance for Business and Training, contact
David Shanks or Kathy Pierce at (423) 547-7500.
