Philadelphia – Today, Rebuild executive Director Nicole Westerman joined the first full day of workforce development training for 16 Philadelphians beginning careers in the building trades. Selected from a pool of over 900 applicants, these individuals were admitted to the first cohort of Rebuild’s paid training program, and will work toward careers in the cement masonry, roofing, and finishing trades unions.
Made possible by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax and a signature initiative of Mayor Jim Kenney, Rebuild is committing hundreds of millions of dollars to restore parks, recreation centers, and libraries in neighborhoods across the city. Rebuild’s workforce development programs are an essential way to cultivate a diverse talent pool in the skilled trades that will support this work over coming years.
The PHL Pipeline and PRA Talent Development programs give diverse Philadelphia residents a new pathway into membership in a construction union. Recruitment for the first cohort of trainees ran for over 6 weeks. Of the applicants reporting their race/ethnicity and gender, 87 percent were people of color, and 12 percent were women. The pilot cohort comprises 9 painting trainees, 6 roofing trainees, and 1 cement masonry trainee, all preparing for apprenticeships in affiliated unions. Participants will be paid throughout the training, starting at $13.25 an hour. Apprentices will work on Rebuild sites or partner projects across the city.
“Rebuild is a once-in-a-generation investment in our public spaces, and it is important that this investment brings more diversity to the building trades, and offers diverse and talented Philadelphia residents a family-sustaining wage,” said Mayor Kenney.
Both programs are in the pilot phase, with further recruitment expected to begin before the end of 2019. As construction gets underway at more Rebuild sites, Rebuild will open recruitment for more trainees in a wider variety of skilled trades.
These programs will provide qualified minority and women candidates a new pathway into apprenticeships and ultimately full union membership in various trades.
“Since breaking ground on the first Rebuild project nine months ago, we have committed $115 million to improving public spaces in our neighborhoods,” said Nicole Westerman, Executive Director of Rebuild. “The success of these investments will be measured not only by the rec center with a beautiful new gym, but by the gym built by a diverse workforce providing long-term career opportunities for Philadelphians.”
Rebuild is investing in capital improvements at 64 initial sites across the City, two-thirds of which are in high needs neighborhoods.
Rebuilding Community Infrastructure (Rebuild) is an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in neighborhood parks, recreation centers and libraries. Proposed in Mayor Jim Kenney’s first budget as a part of his vision for a more equitable Philadelphia, Rebuild seeks to improve pivotal community spaces, empower and engage communities, and promote economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion. Rebuild is a public-private partnership made possible by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax.