By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
In the face of the perennial labor crunch, Guam Community College is tapping the Gen Z crowd for a possible solution. GCC’s $1.3 million Youth Build program, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, is targeting 18 to 24-year-olds who do not have a high school diploma.
The program offers youth in this category an opportunity to obtain their diploma while earning, according to Mary Okada, GCC president.
“They get training in construction and we have a partnership with two entities to help students earn and gain knowledge about construction by working on affordable housing,” Okada said at the Industry Forum hosted by the SAME Guam Post on Nov. 14 and 15.
The program offers two options: one is to build houses from the ground up for low-income individuals, and the other is to do renovations. “We're currently working on the renovation project to launch this particular program,” Okada said.
Driven by the military buildup, the construction industry is one of Guam’s biggest, fastest-growing industries. Given the island’s housing shortage, the industry continues to see an unprecedented demand for skilled employees.
Launched in May, the 32-week program allows up to 66 participants to spend half of their time studying in the GCC Adult Basic Education program to earn a GED or complete their high school diploma requirements. The participants, who receive a stipend to help with living expenses, use the other half of their time learning construction trades. The trades training will culminate with participants building two houses for use as low-income rental properties.
“The Youth Build is a three-year program right now,” Okada said. “We're hoping to get them to complete that credential and then enter into the construction arena by helping to build affordable housing.”
The award will support training employment services for young adults and increase apprenticeships in high-demand fields.
GCC’s industry partner for the grant, Micronesia Community Development Corp. provides two housing sites for the new construction of two homes, each with two bedrooms and one bath. MCDC provides all materials and supplies for constructing the homes.
GCC’s Youth Build program complements the Guam Department of Education and the GCA Trades Academy’s cycle of construction trades classes, which was offered in June. The core curriculum covers topics such as basic safety, introduction to power tools, construction drawings and basic rigging, and provides the foundation for the upper-level courses.
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