IBTS, Huertas College offer free training to 1,280 students in Puerto Rico through CDBG-DR funds
The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) and Huertas College are offering training in nine construction industry courses thanks to funding provided by the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) through its Workforce Training Program. These funds assist qualifying students to attend courses at no cost through Huertas College's Training Center in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) and Huertas College are offering training in nine construction industry courses thanks to funding provided by the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) through its Workforce Training Program. These funds assist qualifying students to attend courses at no cost through Huertas College's Training Center in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Course topics focus on construction management, construction skills, and renewable energy. Between now and June 2023, eligible students can receive construction industry job training as well as job search assistance through Huertas College at no cost. The courses are receiving a very positive response from the public, with seats already filling for courses starting this October.
"We are looking forward to offering many more classes over the next year and a half thanks to funds the PRDOH has provided our IBTS and Huertas College team," said Steven Green, Director of IBTS' Puerto Rico Office.
IBTS signed an agreement in June 2021 with the PRDOH to provide training using Community Development-Disaster Recovery Block Grant (CDBG-DR) funds through the Workforce Training Program. The Program fosters economic development and creates jobs by investing funds into resources that facilitate skills development through education, technical assistance, mentoring, and by honing their talents.
Courses include:
- Construction courses in carpentry, cabinetmaking, masonry, and drywall
- Renewable energy courses in solar photovoltaic technology and alternative energy
- Project management and project supervision
- Certification courses that allow students to work toward a license in electricity or refrigeration
The program is a joint effort between IBTS and Huertas College. IBTS is a nonprofit organization that specializes in building codes, safety, renewable energy, and resilience. IBTS is managing the program, providing materials required for the courses, and ensuring that the program focuses on resilience and building code compliance.
The courses are offered through Huertas College, a post-secondary institution and leader in technical programs related to construction, health, business administration, and entrepreneurship for individuals at high risk, such as victims of gender violence, ex-convicts, and school dropouts. Huertas' construction programs are accredited by the National Center for Construction Education (NCCER).
"These funds will help students, who have not continued their studies due to financial constraints, receive valuable career development through Huertas College's Training Center," said Dr. María del Mar Avilés, Huertas College Past President and Current Strategic Advisor.
"Our mission is to rebuild the lives of individuals, communities and the environments in which they find themselves. This project offers all participants a new path, a route to follow, the hope of economic security in the near future, and the best welfare for all. We are proud to be part of this new program administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Housing," said Green. "We are excited to share our skills with those of Huertas College to achieve the common goal of helping people achieve their dreams, and to be the driving force behind a new workforce that will drive the economic destiny of Puerto Rico," he added.
Visit https://escueladeconstruccion.com/ for course information and registration. For more information about IBTS, visit https://www.ibts.org/. For more information about the Workforce Training Program, visit https://cdbg-dr.pr.gov/capacitacion-laboral/.
Media Contact
Kassandra Laracuente Valentin, IBTS, 787.910.4957, [email protected]
SOURCE IBTS
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