The Elkhorn Area School District is proud to share that on Friday, April 28, 2023, the students and staff of the Career and College Academy were awarded the YouthBuild grant from the US Department of Labor in the amount of $827,964. Among the 68 total recipients, Elkhorn Area School District is one of only two public school districts in the nation to receive the federal award.
This is the second successful YouthBuild grant application for the Career and College Academy. The previous award funded the successful construction of an affordable single-family home in Whitewater and provided construction and employability skills education for over 50 students. Students were supported by a team of dedicated professionals, including a construction manager, career coach, local construction professionals and employers, and other strategic partners to become career ready.
The new grant will allow the Elkhorn Area School District to invest in no fewer than 35 students and construct two homes within the next four years in partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County and the Walworth County Housing Authority. The first cohort of students will participate in the Elkhorn YouthBuild beginning in July 2023, as they will begin construction of the first home to be located in Whitewater. At the conclusion of each cohort, students will earn industry-recognized certifications in OSHA, First Aid, AED, CPR, National Center for Construction Education and Research Certification (NCCER), SNAP-On Certifications, and the “Bring Your ‘A’” Game” Work Ethic Certification from the National Center for Work Ethic Development. In addition, they will participate in community service projects, employer tours, and career panels, as well as other career-development opportunities. Finally, the Elkhorn YouthBuild Program is certified as a Wisconsin Department for Workforce Development Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
The Career and College Academy is currently enrolling new students to begin the first YouthBuild cohort. Interested students and families should contact the school at 262-564-2970 to schedule a tour of the program. Our motto for the Elkhorn YouthBuild program is that when we build good things, they end up building us!
The district would like to recognize Larry Green, Karl Brigson, and Chuck Saul of Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County and thank Sarah Boss, Executive Director of the Walworth County Housing Authority, for their continued support of our students, district, and community, as well as the Elkhorn YouthBuild partners and support listed below.
Elkhorn YouthBuild Partners
- Stebnitz Builders, Inc.
- Precision Plus, Inc.
- Komfort Heating and Cooling, Inc.
- Southern Lakes Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
- Adams Power
- Gateway Technical College
- Habitat for Humanity of Walworth County
- Lakeland Builders Association
- University of Wisconsin - Extension
- Walworth County Housing Authority
- Mode Industries
- Yunker Industries
- Walworth County Economic Development Alliance
- Walworth County Job Center
- Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin
- Thelen Total Construction, Inc.
- Elkhorn Rotary Club