Free construction school opens following $10.9M investment
A $10.9 million investment from the Puerto Rico Department of Housing’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Workforce Training Program has funded the creation of BuildStrong Academy Puerto Rico, a tuition-free construction school launched in San Juan by the Home Builders Institute.
The program is designed to strengthen Puerto Rico’s construction workforce while supporting long-term recovery and economic resilience, officials said.
“This initiative shows how recovery funds translate into real opportunities for our people: training a new generation of skilled workers, strengthening infrastructure and promoting sustainable economic development,” Housing Secretary Ciary Pérez-Peña said.
The academy offers 18-week programs in carpentry, masonry, electricity and plumbing. Students receive free training along with uniforms, meals, safety equipment, Occupational Safety and Health Administration-10 certification, job placement assistance and a $1,000 tool kit once employed.
Courses combine hands-on instruction with professional development to ensure graduates gain both technical skills and workplace readiness.
“By offering industry-recognized, tuition-free training in the skilled trades, the academy will not only address the growing demand for qualified workers but also create pathways to meaningful, sustainable employment for local residents,” Home Builders Institute President Ed Brady said.
BuildStrong Academy also includes a social component. Students can take part in community service projects that apply their skills to real needs, from rehabilitating public spaces to helping vulnerable communities.
The program’s effect is already visible. Its first class graduated this summer, including Alma Nicole Reyes, one of two women to complete the carpentry program.
“We didn’t just learn how to use tools, read blueprints and cut wood — we learned to believe in ourselves,” Reyes said. “I want to sincerely thank our instructors for their patience and for teaching us not only with words, but with their example. You made a huge difference in our lives.”
