A $1.5 million federal grant will bring hands-on construction training and GED preparation to young Cobb County residents who left school without a diploma, Rep. Lucy McBath announced Wednesday, July 22.

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the money through its YouthBuild program to CobbWorks Inc., the county's workforce development board. CobbWorks will partner with Construction Ready, a Georgia nonprofit that provides construction skills training, and Cobb Adult Education, which will handle classroom instruction and GED prep.

The program targets young adults ages 16 to 24 who are out of school and out of work. Participants split time between a job-site training component and a classroom where they can earn a high school equivalency credential and prepare for apprenticeships or college.

"So much of my work in Washington focuses on making sure that every Georgian can get a good job and keep it," McBath said in the announcement. She noted she had written to U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer in February to support CobbWorks' application.

CobbWorks CEO Sonya Grant said the funding will expand training access for youth who need it most, helping them build careers in construction. Construction Ready, the program's training partner, reports on its website that nearly all of its more than 1,200 graduates have landed jobs in as few as 20 days.

Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid praised the award as a step forward for workforce development in the county.

The grant was part of a national $98 million YouthBuild funding round for Program Year 2025-26. Individual awards ranged from $1 million to $2 million and required applicants to match 25 percent of the federal share.

YouthBuild programs can also provide supportive services such as transportation assistance, childcare referrals, work attire, and personal protective equipment during participation and for 12 months afterward.

CobbWorks has not yet announced a program start date or enrollment details. Residents interested in the program can visit worksourcecobb.org or call (770) 528-8066. The organization's office is at 463 Commerce Park Drive, Suite 100, in Marietta.