GEARED TO UNDERSTANDING AND IDENTIFYING DESIRED EMPLOYMENT

Program Description: 

​

Project GUIDE (Geared to Understanding and Identifying Desired Employment) is a 22-week pre-apprenticeship program that offers youth ages 16-24 job readiness and career exploration training through intensive classroom instruction and paid internship opportunities with local businesses in high-demand industries.  

​

Customized Workforce Training in High-Demand Industries: 

​

In 2021, Empowered to Live will be launching Project GUIDE, and Building and Construction Trades is the first high-demand industry selected for our customized workforce training program. For the next three years, we plan to focus on the Building and Construction Trades because it is considered one of the top five largest industries in Frederick County and has a +8.3 percent 5-year job growth rate.* Also, this industry offers the opportunity for substantial wage and career growth, which makes it more accessible for youth to gain employment and earn a living-wage.* During our training program, GUIDE participants will take part in an intensive 8-week paid training, which consists of strengthening job readiness, financial literacy, and technical skills, learning construction math, completing hands-on home improvement projects, and 10-hours of OSHA. After successfully completing 8 weeks of instructional learning, GUIDE participants will be matched with local employers to complete their 14-week paid internship. 

​

*FCWS Industry Snapshot Construction & Skilled Trades

​

Purpose of Project GUIDE:  

​

Project GUIDE is a direct response to the growing number of youths in the Frederick County area that have a household income at or below the ALICE threshold, meaning they have insufficient income to offset the basic cost of living. Our program aims to create pathways that increase the economic mobility of youth identified as ALICE by equipping them with essential workplace readiness and financial literacy skills to gain access to living-wage jobs and make better financial decisions. As a result, we are able to increase the confidence level and leadership capacity of youth and build a talent pipeline that connects, confident, resilient youth to employers who are committed to providing on-the-job training.

​

Program Eligibility Requirements:

• Frederick County resident

• 16-24 years old

• Must meet the income requirements for your household size. (Ex. A person with a family size of four (4) household income cannot exceed $79,600). 

​

*Note: Frederick County Area Median Income (AMI) is the HUD Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) median income

Our talent pipeline yields the following: 

​​

Program Participants Receive: 

• Paid Job Training

• Paid Internship Opportunity

• One-On-One Job Coaching

​

Professional Support Businesses Receive: 

• Increase Visibility 

• Networking Opportunities

• Cultural Competency Training

• Valuable Tax Incentives

Our Training Program

Get Involved!