CertainTeed and Saint-Gobain offer green grant

As part of the kickoff event of a home renovation and youth education project, Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed presented YouthBuild Schenectady with a $100,000 grant in support of the organization’s green building education and job-training program for low-income youth.

The project is part of a three-year national partnership between Saint-Gobain, CertainTeed and YouthBuild USA in support of the organization’s national green building and job training program for out-of-work, out-of-school youth. In YouthBuild programs, low-income young adults ages 16 to 24 work full time for six to 12 months toward their GEDs, high school diplomas or professional credentials while learning green construction skills by building affordable housing in their communities. 

“We are proud to partner with YouthBuild USA and stand behind the organization because of its focus on sustainability and commitment to shaping young adults to be stewards of the environment,” said John Crowe, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed. “With over 1,000 employees in New York, we believe it is important to invest in the future work force and contribute to helping prepare young adults with the necessary skills they will need to be successful.”

The partnership also supports green home renovation projects in three other communities where Saint-Gobain has business concentrations: YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School (Philadelphia, Pa.), YouthBuild Akron Summit (Akron, Ohio) and YouthBuild Worcester (Worcester, Mass.).

Upon completion, the sustainable single-family home designed by Re4orm Architecture will seek LEED certification. It will then be sold to a family of low or moderate income that has fulfilled eligibility requirements and completed a HUD-approved homeownership counseling program.