Housing Hub’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program: Get Paid to Learn a Trade

Article Reprinted by Courtesy of The Grundy County Herald

Housing Hub needs applicants for its first ever Pre-Apprenticeship Program, a 12-week construction trainee program set to begin in late August 2026.

“We’re targeting graduating high school seniors who may decide that college isn’t for them,” said Cody Jorstad, Housing Hub’s Director of Housing Development, who will lead the program.

“One pillar of Housing Hub’s mission is to foster workforce development in the building trades on the South Cumberland Plateau, so that young folks can imagine a sustainable career here at home,” Jorstad said, noting that 18-24 is the target age for male and female participants.

Interested locals may now apply for the program on Housing Hub’s website, www.housinghubtn.org. Applications will remain open until all five spots are filled.

“There will be an interview to see if candidates will be a good fit,” Jorstad added.

Those selected will receive $15 an hour for a 36-hour work week, which blends one day of classroom-style learning, three days of work on Housing Hub construction projects or Mountain T.O.P. remodeling jobsites, and a half day of coaching to include topics like budgeting, building resumes, developing interview skills, and job shadowing.

“For instance, if they learn about roofing on Monday in the classroom, then on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, we can go out on a Mountain T.O.P. home repair project replacing someone’s roof,” Jorstad said. “It’s helping further both our organizations’ capacity by being a labor source for home repairs and new home construction and getting them much-needed job experience.”

Construction skills covered will be rough carpentry and framing; roofing; exterior siding, window, and door installs; interior finishes and trim work; flooring; insulation; drywall; reading construction plans; and handling construction materials, job estimating, and planning.

Participants will need reliable transportation to Mountain T.O.P. at 480 Old Hwy. 56 in Coalmont, where the program will be hosted. Part of the student’s stipend will include work boots, necessary work attire, and basic hand tools that they will keep when they graduate.

Successful completion of the program will result in industry-recognized Pre-Apprenticeship credentials and a recommendation letter to future employers.

Jorstad sees the program as a stepping stone to bigger opportunities whether it’s enrolling in a Tennessee College of Applied Technology program or hiring on with another local contractor.

“It gives them exposure to a wide variety of things to help them then feel comfortable to pursue what interests them in more depth,” he said. “I’m excited about finding a way to combine engaging the next generation in the trades with getting some really meaningful work accomplished in the community.

“Their work on Housing Hub’s next affordable home build or Mountain T.O.P.’s repair projects will help those organizations get work done with a dedicated workforce. We’re addressing an important need to build up the next generation, but we’re doing that by serving local needs that we know exist.”

The program will use the highly regarded Home Builders’ Institute Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) materials to ensure that training adheres to industry best practices, resulting in recognized credentials for its trainees, Jorstad added.