A new chapter for the skilled trades talent pipeline in DC
Dear CityWorks DC Community,
Earlier this month, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced that CityWorks DC was selected to participate in its new $90M national skilled trades initiative. This initiative will strengthen and expand pathways connecting DC students to high wage, in-demand careers in the skilled trades. On behalf of the employer-led model of Hire Local DC that the Federal City Council and CityWorks DC have built together, I am excited to share more about what this investment will mean for DC students, schools, and industry. Over the next three years, this investment will reach 2,000 DC public and public charter school students.
Expand Career Exploration
CityWorks DC and Hire Local DC will partner with up to six public and public charter middle schools to introduce students to skilled trades careers through hands-on learning experiences. Students will meet industry professionals, visit construction sites, participate in design challenges, and experience a career-connected curriculum that builds problem-solving, technical, and critical-thinking skills.
Build In Apprenticeship Preparation
At the high school level, CityWorks DC and Hire Local DC will work with six public and public charter schools to strengthen Construction Trades and Engineering Career and Technical Education programs. Students will gain access to industry-informed curriculum, upgraded equipment, employability training, apprenticeship assessment preparation, interview coaching, work-based learning opportunities, and paid internships designed to prepare interested graduates to enter Registered Apprenticeships directly after high school.
Accelerate Employer Mobilization and Local Hiring
The initiative will continue to connect the District’s construction industry leaders with schools and training programs, creating critical feedback loops focused on ensuring students are prepared to seamlessly transition into good jobs in the skilled trades and industry leaders are successfully able to retain them. This new chapter happens through deep collaboration, not just with the Federal City Council, but also with 6 education organizations, 13 companies, and 6 apprenticeship sponsors that contributed to this proposal.
This initiative builds on the leadership and partnership of DC Public Schools, Friendship Public Charter Schools, IDEA Public Charter School, YouthBuild Public Charter School, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education, and a growing network of employers and industry partners.
We are especially grateful to our employer partners BConstrux, Clark Construction Group, Davis Construction, Donohoe Construction, DPR Construction, Freestate Electric, Gilbane, HS Solutions, MC Dean, Miller & Long, rand* Construction, Steinman Electric, and W.E. Bowers.
We’re also proud to work alongside strategic partners including ABC of Metro Washington, the Baltimore/DC Metro Building Trades Council, the DC Student Construction Trades Foundation, the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, IBEW Local 26, and the National Building Museum.
Together, we’re creating more opportunities for DC students to discover meaningful careers, earn industry credentials, and connect with good jobs that offer competitive wages and opportunities for advancement.
Want to learn more about Hire Local DC and our employer-led workforce model? Click here to explore the initiative.
Thank you for being part of making this possible.
Best,
Jennifer C. Niles
President & CEO
CityWorks DC