Building Futures wins Workforce Board’s innovation award

GOV. LINCOLN D. CHAFEE and Governor's Workforce Board Chair Constance Howes present Building Futures participant Tara Freeman and Building Futures Executive Director Andrew Cortes with the 2013 GWB Innovation Award at the board's annual meeting. / COURTESY THE GOVERNOR'S WORKFORCE BOARD/JOE GIBLIN
GOV. LINCOLN D. CHAFEE and Governor's Workforce Board Chair Constance Howes present Building Futures participant Tara Freeman and Building Futures Executive Director Andrew Cortes with the 2013 GWB Innovation Award at the board's annual meeting. / COURTESY THE GOVERNOR'S WORKFORCE BOARD/JOE GIBLIN

PROVIDENCE – Building Futures, a program of The Providence Plan, was named the 2013 winner of the Governor’s Workforce Board’s Innovation Award.

The award recognizes Building Futures for its work in low-income housing construction and its overall workforce development efforts in construction.

Building Futures is currently partnered with the Olneyville Housing Corp. to create brand new homes using energy-efficient methods and materials, according to a board release.

Following what it calls a “service learning model,” graduates of the Building Futures pre-apprenticeship program rotate through a 10-week on-the-job training opportunity in which labor costs are subsidized by the Governor’s Workforce Board.

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The group is currently completing the first of four houses in Olneyville. When this first house is completed, Building Futures has plans to build three more in the area, creating “brand new homes for those in need,” according to a release.

Building Futures has served as a Governor’s Workforce Board industry partnership since 2007 and has helped to grow the number of young, skilled workers in Rhode Island construction as many skilled workers age out of the industry.

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