The Y.W.C.A. in Western Massachusetts recently announced it received a three-year $1.1 million grant that will help the organization expand its services to reach more area youth. Through its YouthBuild Program, the Y.W.C.A. provides young people with access to skill building activities, especially in construction, that prepare them to enter the job market.

YouthBuild also helps the organization address four primary problems affecting young people in Springfield, Massachusetts, including leadership development, education, jobs and housing, according to WSHM-TV.

The one-year job-training program targets inner-city kids ages 18 through 24 who might otherwise face difficulties succeeding in the workforce because they suffer from substance abuse problems or dropped out of high school early, Mary Reardon Johnson, YWCA executive director, told the Republican.

With the additional funds, YouthBuild anticipates extending the reach of the program to include an additional 30 members, bringing the total to 60, Johnson added. Staff members will also be added to the team to accommodate the growth.

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