North Coast Opportunities’ BUILD program reports high placement rate, wins ARPA extension for Lake County cohorts

At a Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting, North Coast Opportunities (NCO) staff presented updated outcomes for the BUILD (Building Up Individuals and Local Development) program and said an ARPA grant extension has increased available funds for program work in Lake County.

Justin Gaddy, director of community wellness at North Coast Opportunities, told supervisors the program combines paid, apprenticeship‑style training with community construction work to create pathways to long‑term employment in the trades. “Our mission is to support individuals and families in achieving self reliance while building stronger, more resilient communities across the region,” Gaddy said.

NCO described the BUILD construction fundamentals track as a four‑month, paid earn‑and‑learn program that typically receives about 60–65 applications per cohort and narrows applicants to six participants for paid training. Trainees are generally adults 18 and older who face barriers to employment such as lack of experience, housing instability,…