A Tucson organization, Project PPEP, has been awarded a $1 million grant to support academic and occupational skills training for at-risk youth.
The award is part of $76 million in YouthBuild grants from the U.S. Department of Labor announced Wednesday.
Founded in 1967, Portable, Practical Educational Preparation, Inc., provides services including education, charter schools, health, housing, counseling, employment, job training and more.
Project PPEP will utilize the funds to implement a YouthBuild program, which provides classroom instruction and occupational skills training in construction and other in-demand occupations.
The program serves 16-24 year-olds who have dropped out of high school and may or may not have been in the justice system, are aging out of foster care, or are otherwise at-risk of failing to reach key educational and career milestones.
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Grants were awarded to 31 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 200 applicants came forward but only 72 grants were awarded.
Grant winners were required to submit their plan for empowering at-risk youth and their track record for carrying out that work.
Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@tucson.com or 573-4175. On Twitter: @AlexisHuicochea
Alexis Huicochea
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