Google.org Grants Home Builders Institute $ to Expand Skilled Trades Training for Veterans

Home Builders Institute (HBI), a nonprofit that trains and certifies students for skilled trades careers, received a grant from Google.org to expand its training programs for transitioning military service members, veterans, and their family members. This is part of Google's ongoing commitment to helping 25,000 veterans and military families build careers in the skilled trades.

HBI's Military Services program offers tuition-free, 12-week skilled trades training through the Department of Defense SkillBridge program at 10 sites on or near military installations. The grant will help HBI add more training cohorts, expand its training, and strengthen job placement support for participants.

The skilled labor shortage costs the economy around $10.8 billion annually, with builders needing over 700,000 additional workers each year to meet demand. HBI Military Services graduates earn average starting wages of over $23 an hour, with an impressive 87% job-placement rate.