Avangrid Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Advance Skilled Trades Training and Affordable Homeownership
The Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of energy company Avangrid Inc., part of the Iberdrola Group, is supporting workforce development and affordable homeownership in Geneva, New York, through a partnership with Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity. The collaboration was highlighted during a recent site tour of the organization’s 2026 Youth Build Program, where students are gaining practical construction experience while helping build a home for a local family.
The site tour took place at a Habitat for Humanity home under construction on Katherine Street in Geneva. The project provided an opportunity to demonstrate how hands-on education can help young people develop practical skills, explore career opportunities in the skilled trades, and make a direct contribution to their community.
Through financial support from the Avangrid Foundation, five students participated in the nine-week summer Youth Build Program. During the program, participants received hands-on experience in residential construction while learning about workplace safety, teamwork, carpentry, and other building trades.
The initiative connects workforce development with a broader community objective: expanding access to safe and affordable homeownership.
Creating Career Pathways Through Hands-On Learning
Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda emphasized the importance of practical learning opportunities in preparing the next generation of workers.
“The future workforce is shaped by hands-on learning experiences like the Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity’s Youth Build Program,” Miranda said. He noted that the partnership gives students opportunities to develop practical skills, explore career pathways in the skilled trades, and contribute to a project that will have a meaningful impact on a local family.
Programs such as Youth Build can play an important role in introducing students to career options that may not require a traditional four-year college pathway. By working directly on construction projects, participants can develop technical abilities while also gaining experience in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and workplace responsibility.
These skills can provide a foundation for future employment in construction and related industries, where demand for qualified workers remains strong.
Avangrid Foundation Supports Community Development
The Avangrid Foundation views the partnership as part of its broader commitment to supporting communities and creating opportunities for young people.
Pablo Colón, Director of Corporate Citizenship at Avangrid and Executive Director of the Avangrid Foundation, said the program demonstrates how partnerships can address multiple community priorities at the same time.
By supporting Youth Build, the foundation is helping students gain valuable skills while also contributing to efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities for families in Geneva.
Colón emphasized that collaboration among businesses, community organizations, educators, and local leaders can create opportunities that strengthen communities and help young people develop the skills needed for successful careers.
The project therefore extends beyond the construction of a single home. It represents an investment in students, workforce development, affordable housing, and the broader Geneva community.
Students Gain Real-World Construction Experience
The five students participating in the nine-week program were able to apply what they learned directly on a construction site. Their experience included exposure to residential construction processes, workplace safety procedures, carpentry, communication, and teamwork.
Student intern Emmet Crawley described the experience as an important opportunity to learn through direct participation.
Crawley said the program provided hands-on experience in carpentry and construction while teaching students how to work accurately and communicate effectively with others on a job site. He also highlighted the importance of learning from mentors, fellow interns, and volunteers.
The supportive environment created through Habitat for Humanity allowed participants to learn not only technical construction skills but also the value of working as part of a team.
For students considering careers in construction, these experiences can provide valuable insight into the expectations and opportunities associated with skilled-trades careers.
Supporting Affordable Homeownership
While workforce development is a major component of the initiative, the project also addresses the need for affordable housing.
Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity works to expand access to safe and affordable homeownership opportunities. The home being constructed on Katherine Street will provide a local family with an opportunity to achieve homeownership while benefiting from the work of students, volunteers, mentors, and community partners.
Kim Brumber, CEO of Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity, said the Youth Build Program brings together workforce development and affordable housing.
The partnership gives young people the opportunity to prepare for careers in in-demand skilled trades while helping a family move closer to homeownership.
The project also demonstrates how community organizations can create broader economic and social benefits by combining education, employment preparation, volunteerism, and housing development.
Local Leaders Highlight Community Impact
The site tour brought together representatives from the Avangrid Foundation, NYSEG and RG&E, Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity, the City of Geneva, and the office of New York State Senator Pam Helming.
Participants included Pablo Colón, Trish Nilsen, CEO of NYSEG and RG&E; Kim Brumber; Geneva Mayor Jim Cecere; and representatives from Senator Helming’s office.
Senator Helming praised the Youth Build Program for addressing two important regional priorities: preparing young people for careers in skilled trades and helping families achieve homeownership.
She also recognized the students who worked on the home and highlighted the long-term impact their efforts will have on the family moving into the property.
Mayor Jim Cecere similarly emphasized the importance of collaboration. He noted that the Katherine Street project demonstrates what can be achieved when organizations, educational programs, businesses, and local government work toward a common goal.
According to Cecere, Habitat for Humanity is creating a pathway to homeownership, students are gaining hands-on experience, and the Avangrid Foundation is providing financial support to help make the project possible.
Building a Stronger Future
The partnership between the Avangrid Foundation and Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity illustrates how investments in workforce development can be combined with community housing initiatives to produce lasting benefits.
For the participating students, the program provides practical exposure to construction careers and valuable workplace skills. For the local family, it represents a pathway toward safe and affordable homeownership. For Geneva, the project contributes to both workforce preparation and community development.
As the construction project progresses, the experience gained by the students will remain one of the program’s most important outcomes. By combining classroom learning with real-world construction work, Youth Build is helping introduce the next generation to skilled-trades careers while demonstrating the positive impact young people can have in their communities.
The Avangrid Foundation’s support reinforces the importance of partnerships that invest simultaneously in people and communities. Through continued collaboration among businesses, nonprofits, educators, government representatives, and volunteers, initiatives like Youth Build can help create stronger career pathways, expand housing opportunities, and build a more resilient future for communities across the region.
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