Aged 16 to 24
The participant is between the ages of 16 and 24 on the date of enrollment. If you are older, TradesFutures is the same training without the age ceiling.
Program · Ages 16–24 
YouthBuild
The Georgia Building Trades Academy (GABTA) YouthBuild Program is a hands-on construction pre-apprenticeship program designed to prepare trainees to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship Program.
How the schedule works
Where learning meets hands-on experience
The YouthBuild model splits time between the classroom and hands-on training experiences. In the classroom, you learn the essential information for being on the job site and for building a successful future. During hands-on experiences, you practice what you have learned, gaining experiences across different trades to determine the path that is right for you.
Eligibility
Who YouthBuild is for
Member of a low-income family
Or one of the following:
- Youth experiencing housing instability
- Youth in foster care (including youth aging out of foster care)
- Youth involved in the justice system
- Youth who is an individual with a disability
- A child of an incarcerated parent
- A migrant youth
Left high school before graduating
Left high school prior to graduation, or an individual who left high school prior to graduation and has subsequently reenrolled. Our program offers pathways for obtaining your high school credential as you work on your construction training.
Live in one of these zip codes
30236, 30253, 30281, 30297, 30310, 30311, 30313, 30314, 30315, 30318, 30331, 30354
In some cases, we are able to provide training to applicants who do not meet one or more of the above requirements. If you are interested in our program, we encourage you to still apply, as we evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis.
What to expect
The shape of the program
Experience-based learning
Trade math, blueprint reading, and tools in the classroom; welding and equipment operation in the shop. Participants are constantly practicing what they learn through immersive, hands-on opportunities.
Earn your high school equivalency
Diploma or GED preparation runs alongside the construction trades training, ensuring that no barriers prevent participants from entering their chosen trade.
Safety first, always
Construction sites are dangerous. We make sure our participants are prepared to protect themselves and their colleagues on the job site through OSHA and First Aid/CPR training.
Life skills
During their time in the program, participants have opportunities to learn important life skills outside of construction. We partner with organizations to teach financial literacy and future planning.
Union introduction
Participants have many opportunities to meet the leaders of our union affiliates through class visits from Business Managers or Apprenticeship Coordinators or through scheduled tours of union facilities.
Community service
Building better communities is part of the YouthBuild model. Many of our hands-on experiences come from community partners, allowing students to put their new skills to work on service projects in the neighborhoods they come from.
Placement support
Graduating doesn’t mean participants are done with GABTA. We work the application into apprenticeship with graduates, help as they settle into their new careers, and continue to follow-up at different points to make sure all graduates are successful and happy.
Life in the program
Hard work, good days
