Building Futures Takes STEP in the Right Direction

Hands-on construction training program to graduate low-income minorities and women.

Mayor Angel Taveras this week joined Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Jim Langevin, Governor Lincoln Chafee, members of the Federal Highway Administration and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to applaud Providence's Building Futures for successfully implementing STEP (State Transportation Employment Program), a construction training and jobs skills development program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. STEP began on October 2010 and will graduate 55 low-income minorities and women by the conclusion of the program this May.

"I congratulate Andrew Cortes, his hardworking staff at Building Futures, and especially all the young men and women who will benefit greatly from STEP. The hands-on experience they have gained in the construction industry is not only helping our state to strengthen our roads, bridges and infrastructure, but it is also forging a diverse workforce and allowing young people in Providence build their careers in a great industry," said Mayor Taveras.

Funding for STEP came from a $350,000 Recovery Act grant administered by the FHWA and received by RIDOT. Building Futures designed STEP as a comprehensive and interactive construction training and skills development program tailored to the requirements of RIDOT-related construction projects. Training includes hands-on experience and theory-based learning regarding many aspects of transportation related projects, including the construction of an 80-foot section of a model highway bridge.

To learn more about STEP and Building Futures, contact acortes@provplan.org or call 401-919-5919.