Prosper Portland Awards $300,000 for Community Wealth-Building

Prosper Portland has invested $300,000 to help local nonprofit Constructing Hope expand its construction training facility in Northeast Portland. The training center helps those seeking to gain skills to enter construction careers with middle-class wages and defined benefits. The larger facility will serve twice as many people, increasing the number of training participants from 100 to 200 annually.

The expansion will support business equity in the community through the use of certified Minority, Women Owned and Emerging Small Business contractors and architects. The expansion will furthermore provide expanded, storefront access to a meaningful community program. Constructing Hope will complete funding of the $500,000 project through grants and community donations.

Constructing Hope provides no-cost, ten-week construction training programs, placement services, and career advancement support. Graduates enter construction apprenticeships that are the pathways to careers as carpenters, laborers, roofers, electricians, iron workers, masons, painters, sheet metal workers, heavy equipment operators, and HVAC technicians. Last year, Constructing Hope placed more graduates into the skilled construction trades than ever before. The organization placed 83 graduates into employment with an average starting wage was $16.74/hr.

Prior to entering the program these graduates faced barriers like a lack of work experience, little or no advanced education, experience with the criminal justice system, and race discrimination in the workplace. Executive Director Patricia “Pat” Daniels says, “Construction is one of the few industries that will hire people with a criminal record. For communities of color, who are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, this can be a life saver.”

The program works by helping participants move from building small projects like a complex sawhorse to capstone projects like tiny house construction. Participants get a head start toward employment with transportation support for their first job, driver’s license assistance, professional certifications, tools, work boots, and personal protective equipment. At the same time, they learn life skills such as budgeting, personal goal setting, and career development strategies.

Constructing Hope graduate Raleigh Morrison shared, “With a criminal background, Constructing Hope gave me opportunity I didn’t think was possible. They’ve given me a whole new life.” So inspirational was Morrison’s experience and resulting middle-class wage of $26.85 per hour; that two of his sons followed in his footsteps and are currently working together on a large concrete project.

Community members who are unemployed and seeking no-cost construction training can visit www.constructinghope.org or call the front desk at (503) 281-1234.