Grant to Retrain Veterans through Building Projects

SAVANNAH, GA — The Home Builders Institute (HBI) will offer its award-winning Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) to retrain veterans in the Savannah region.

HBI received a Bob Woodruff Foundation Spring 2016 grants totaling $2.7 million to bring PACT to the area. The Foundation provides grants to non-profits supporting veterans and their families to address rehabilitation, care and also education and training.

PACT will reach soon-to-transition active duty military serving at the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Stewart as well as unemployed veterans in the Savannah area. HBI will provide 50 veterans with classroom instruction and real work experience through community service construction projects.

The goal, according to the announcement, is to provide veterans with sustainable vocational skills for work in the civilian world.

HBI launched PACT in 1994 and has been recognized for its work with the youth and former offenders. In 2012, HBI partnered with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to offer PACT to Florida veterans in Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando. Veterans receive free training, certification and job placement in the home building, remodeling and light commercial construction industries. Satellite training areas were set up in 2013, and the program continues.

More information about the Florida PACT program’s coordination and success stories are available on the National Conference of State Legislators website.