Workforce Development Grant to Help Rebuild Houston

Approaching six months since Hurricane Harvey inundated Houston, the city is grappling with a glut of rebuilding work as it continues to clean up flooded homes. There are not enough craft and trade workers in the area that can complete all the work needed to clean and restore damaged housing. A post-disaster workforce development grant program is helping to change that.

Lone Star Community College in partnership with Rebuild Houston, added 10 courses to its Construction Trades Technology Center. "Drywall. Framing. Plumbing. Carpentry. Masonry,” Linda Head, the college's vice-chancellor, told KHOU.com. Rebuild Houston is working to create temporary employment opportunities, and is funded by a National Dislocated Worker Grant to address the unexpected job loss in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

The program will aim to train 3,800 people, and workforce development grant funding can provide tuition, books and uniforms for 3,000 people to take free classes that last anywhere from six weeks to three months.

The workforce development funding must expand capacity of dislocated workers, including military service members or self-employed individuals who become unemployed or significantly underemployed and laid off workers.

The college is advertising the following certificate programs:

• OSHA
• OSHA Hoswoper
• Framing/Carpentry
• Concrete Finishing
• 1st Line Supervisor/Project Management
• Drywall
• HVAC Installation
• Welding
• Masonry
• Pipefitting
• Plumbing
• Sheet Metal

Homeowners that want to do work themselves can also sign up for courses.