An extra benefit is now available for participants in the Davenport School District's Student Built Home Program. In addition to a variety of skills, the students are now considered pre-approved for apprenticeship programs.
Dave Bert, from the Quad City Area Realtor Association, one of the partners in the program, says approval of the program by the US Department of Labor will make it easier for local contractors to hire the students after they graduate.
"So what this does is it opens up the door for our sub-contractors to get training grants through the state of Iowa to hire apprentices. And now they know our students are considered pre-approved for apprenticeship programs."
Davenport students have been building homes each year since 1999, learning about plumbing, electrical, heating and air-conditioning, carpentry, and many other skills.
Bert says anywhere from 9 to 25 students enroll each year in the home building program. And they just completed this year's home, and held an open house, on West 63rd Street in Davenport.
