08/07/25 - Applications Now Open for YouthBuild CORE-2: A Career and Leadership Program for Youth Navigating Barriers in Buncombe County

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Applications are now open for YouthBuild CORE-2 (Construction Opportunities in Rural and Urban Environments), a dynamic workforce development program for young people ages 16–24 who left high school without a diploma and are facing barriers to education and employment. The program offers a life-changing opportunity for young people to get training for quality jobs. 

YouthBuild CORE-2 is a three-year project led by Land of Sky Regional Council in partnership with two subrecipients: Hood Huggers Foundation and Camp Grier’s WORX Project. This project is funded in part (80%) by a $1,500,000 grant awarded under the YouthBuild Program from the U.S. Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration. The total cost of this project is $1,875,000, of which $375,000 or 20% will be supported by non-federal sources. “YouthBuild CORE-2 is about investing in young people who have found themselves facing challenges so they can complete their education or obtain reliable work,” said M.Z. Yehudah, Executive Director of Hood Huggers Foundation. “This program gives them the tools, training, and confidence they need to build not just homes for those who may need them, but a better future for themselves and their communities.” Three cohorts of 22 individuals will be accepted over the course of the project, which will take about 7 months for each cohort to complete. The program will prepare participants to acquire the skills and training needed to successfully enter the workforce while simultaneously providing affordable housing.

Participants in YouthBuild CORE-2 will:

• Work toward their GED

• Earn an industry-recognized construction credential

• Gain hands-on experience building affordable housing in both urban and rural settings

• Receive financial incentives, comprehensive case management, job placement assistance, and support services

• Develop leadership skills and career readiness
  

Training will take place at two innovative community sites: Blue Note Junction in West Asheville and Camp Grier’s WORX Project in Fairview, both in Buncombe County. Blue Note Junction is a new health, business incubator, and resiliency hub by Hood Huggers. This urban site will feature a commercial kitchen, an artists and makers village, a theatre, 32 affordable housing units, and more. At the rural WORX Project site, participants will have the opportunity to build a housing unit reserved for long-term, below-market rental in a rural community.

“The timing is perfect for a YouthBuild program in Buncombe County, as we continue to rebuild from the devastation Hurricane Helene caused while still working to re-engage Opportunity Youth who are neither in school nor employed,” said Nathan Ramsey, Executive Director of Land of Sky Regional Council. “The YouthBuild CORE-2 project will provide the resources, opportunities, and support to enable young people to create the best versions of themselves and to give back to their community by building low-income housing, while also obtaining education and construction skills training that will start them on a path to financial independence in an in-demand industry.”

Eligible youth are those who have left high school without a diploma and are members of a low-income family, in foster care, court-involved, disabled, homeless, pregnant or parenting, children of an incarcerated parent, or migrant youth. Throughout the program, participants will split their time between classroom instruction and hands-on construction training, while also receiving help with transportation, work gear, child care, and healthcare referrals.

“We’re honored to be a part of the YouthBuild CORE-2 initiative in Western North Carolina,” said Sara Jarrell, Director of WORX Project. “This program aligns perfectly with our mission to equip young people with the skills, confidence, and support they need to thrive in meaningful careers. Through hands-on construction training and mentorship, we’re not just helping build homes — we’re helping build futures.”

Interested youth, parents, and guardians can learn more by visiting www.youthbuildcore2.com. 

About Hood Huggers Foundation

Hood Huggers Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Hood Huggers International, an Asheville-based organization founded in 2005 that uses the arts, environments, and social enterprise to establish creative solutions to social and community issues. 

About Land of Sky Regional Council

Land of Sky Regional Council is a multi-county planning and development organization serving Western North Carolina. Through regional collaboration, we support inclusive economic growth, workforce development, and sustainable communities. About WORX Project The WORX Project is a CTE program powered by Camp Grier that creates clear pathways for youth in Western North Carolina to pursue careers in skilled trade sectors. With a focus on career fields that align with regional workforce demands, WORX prepares students through hands-on training and real-world experience. Rooted in values of diligence, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit, the program instills these principles in every participant.

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