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UA-PTC receives $1.8 million grant to launch YouthBuild program

UA - Pulaski Tech has been awarded a $1.8 million federal grant to launch a new program that helps young adults earn their high school equivalency diplomas while learning high-demand construction skills.

The initiative, called YouthBuild BRIDGE, will serve 66 young adults ages 18 to 24 over the next three years. The full-time program is open to young people who do not currently have a high school diploma.

Students will spend 40 hours a week dividing their time between classroom education, paid hands-on construction training, and community leadership projects.

College leaders and community partners will host a press conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, to officially launch the program. The event will take place at Providence Park, the project site, located at 6900 Green Road in Mabelvale. To ensure attendee comfort, the formal program will be held inside an air-conditioned facility at the site.

"This program gives young adults in our community a clear path to a great career," said UA-PTC Chancellor Summer DeProw. "These students will be working on a real job site learning how to build, lead, and give back to their community."

While working toward their GED credentials through UA-PTC’s Adult Education division, students will simultaneously earn critical safety and trade certificates. These include National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certifications, OSHA 10-hour safety training, and the National Career Readiness Certificate. The curriculum will also introduce students to basic artificial intelligence tools based on the U.S. Department of Labor's latest computer literacy standards.

Students will get their hands-on training at Providence Park, a master-planned village of 400 tiny homes designed to reduce chronic homelessness in Central Arkansas. Working closely under the supervision of licensed construction professionals, YouthBuild students will help build these housing units from the ground up.

"The partnership between Providence Park and UA - Pulaski Tech creates a unique opportunity for students to learn by doing while contributing to a project with lasting community impact," said Errin Stanger, CEO of Providence Park. "As they build homes for individuals experiencing homelessness, they will also build confidence, skills, and a foundation for their own future success. We're proud to partner with UA-Pulaski Tech on a program that creates a pathway to meaningful careers and strengthens our community at the same time."

Students will start by learning tool safety and basic framing before moving on to roofing, insulation, and interior drywall work. After completing the program, graduates will receive a full year of support from case managers and job developers to help them transition into apprenticeship programs, college classes, or full-time jobs.

The program will be led by founding Project Director Dr. Cathy Riggins, who has more than 20 years of experience managing federal labor programs and construction training. Key regional partners supporting the program include the Academies of Central Little Rock Workforce Development Board, safety expert J. Michael Tramel, and the Little Rock Regional Chamber technical career group Be Pro Be Proud.

Funding for the program comes from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.