TACOMA – Applications are available until Aug. 17 for Tacoma Goodwill’s YouthBuild program, which provides young adults job training in the construction field and classroom instruction to pass a GED while receiving a paid stipend.

Applications are due to the Tacoma Goodwill Workforce Development Office, 714 S. 27th St., in Tacoma. Applications are available at the office or online at www.tacomagoodwill.org. For information, contact Latasha Evans, 253.219.3363, levans@tacomagoodwill.org; or Kurt Kurtz, 253.576.5615, kkurtz@tacomagoodwill.org. Applications can be mailed, fax’d to 253.627.1248 or contact Kurtz or Evans for a pickup.

Applicants should be 18-24 years old with an interest in the construction field. Young adults who may have dropped out of school or who have a criminal record are also encouraged to apply.

“Mental Toughness” training starts the program to determine suitability and attendance is a key factor. In all, 16 people will be chosen for the program, which ends in April 2008.

Among the successes of the 18 YouthBuild graduates in 2007: all improved math and reading by at lest one grade level; nine attained GEDs by graduation; more than 800 hours in volunteer service were donated, including work on 10 homes that were either built, went through rehabilitation or cleared for the Tacoma Housing Authority; and 12 got jobs with salaries ranging from $8.50 to $14.33 per hour with seven planning to pursue trades apprenticeships.