Google announced a new investment in Central Ohio through a workforce development grant, which will benefit one of the area’s top career-training programs.
On June 22, the tech giant awarded a $100,000 grant to the Building Futures Program, one of four Ohio entities to receive a Google grant.
“Google is thrilled to play a part in all Ohioans getting the training they need to fill critical roles in their communities,” said Wendy Peterson, Google’s Regional Head of Workforce Development, in a prepared statement. “These organizations are focused on ensuring Ohio has a diverse, strong workforce, and helping people get a foothold in high demand, family-wage jobs.”
The grant will help the program better reach underrepresented people and educate them on the pre-apprenticeship program, which can lead to a successful career in the region’s building trades.
A partnership between the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Franklin County, the City of Columbus and the Columbus Urban League, the Building Futures Program serves traditionally underserved and underrepresented individuals.
Serving Franklin County and Central Ohio, Building Futures helps participants learn life skills and overcome career hurdles. It strives to diversify the construction trades by providing minorities and women a path to the middle class.
Several Building Futures graduates are building Google’s New Albany data center campus.
“This was a surprise,” said Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council. “There is a need in Franklin County and throughout the region to help members of the underserved communities gain access to careers in the building trades, which provide a pathway to a middle-class lifestyle.
“I thank Google for awarding this grant to the Building Futures Program,” he added.
The grant will be used to focus on additional recruitment and outreach, according to Hager.
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