November 30, 2006

Pryce, Tiberi Applaud Central Ohio Recipients of Federal Youthbuild Grants  

HUD Grants Totaling $2.1 Million Awarded to Aid At-Risk Central Ohio Youth

Columbus , Ohio – Congresswoman Pryce (R-Columbus) and Pat Tiberi ( R-Genoa Township) today applauded three central Ohio community organizations for receiving $2.1 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) YouthBuild Program. The YouthBuild program enables young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 to complete their high school education while obtaining on-the-job training in construction. Under the federal program, students build or renovate single family homes and multi-family apartments which are sold at affordable prices, to low- and very low-income persons as well as to homeless individuals and families.

"The Youthbuild program is among HUD's finest,” said Pryce. “Under the program, at-risk youth learn an important job skill, finish high school, and find themselves employable upon graduation. In addition, Youthbuild instills values like leadership, community service and a strong work ethic in many area teenagers who might not otherwise develop these important and marketable virtues.”

“There is no better example of a win-win program," said Representative Tiberi.  "Not only are we helping young people complete their education and learn a skill, we're also helping meet the need for affordable housing in Central Ohio."

Three area organizations won competitive grants from HUD for Fiscal Year 2007 including:

  • Buckeye Community Hope Foundation -- $700,000
  • Future Community Builders -- $700,000
  • Youth Over Us, Inc. -- $700,000

Founded in 1990, YouthBuild USA is a national nonprofit organization that works to unleash the positive energy of low-income young people to rebuild their communities and their lives. It supports an expanding nationwide network of more than 200 local YouthBuild programs. Strong emphasis is placed on leadership development, community service, and the creation of a positive mini-community of adults and youth committed to success. In total, 5 Ohio organizations received $3.5 million in YouthBuild program funding.

 
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