We’re experiencing a moment in history when changes in the manufacturing sector, retirement of an aging skilled trade workforce, and diversification of the regional economy have created a skills shortage. This means there are new opportunities for City residents to launch careers in the building and construction trades – giving them access to family-sustaining jobs with great benefits and skills to literally rebuild and grow our community.
The City of Racine and Mayor Mason believe in your potential! We want to encourage and support adults in the City who are interested in starting family-sustaining careers in the building/construction trades. We know that for too long, people of color and women especially have been underrepresented in the trades, and we are investing to help our residents get the support, education, and training they need to access these jobs.

The City is proud to partner with WRTP/Big Step and the Racine Family YMCA to help our residents complete their FREE pre-apprenticeship training programs. Through WRTP/Big Step’s Roadbuilding Training Program and the Racine Family YMCA’s First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Program, you can gain the skills and confidence you need to begin a new career with great pay, benefits, and stability in the construction and building trades. AND, for a limited time, the City will give City residents age 18+ who go through one of these FREE training programs a $1,500 City Scholarship to help you pay the bills while you’re being trained! Apply here.

We know that starting training programs requires a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice. To support you in doing this, the City is now offering scholarships of up to $1,500 to residents who enroll in and complete either WRTP/Big Step’s Southeast Wisconsin Roadbuilding Training Program or the Racine YMCA’s First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
If you live in the City of Racine and are ready to start your career in the building trades, complete this application for a City scholarship and begin your journey
Thanks to all of the City staff and nonprofit partners who made City of Racine Day such a success yesterday! #GROWRacine ... See MoreSee Less
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Tomorrow! Join us for this great City of Racine day event at the Bryant Center. Apply for jobs, get resume & interviewing help, connect with City and City-funded partner resources, enjoy lunch on us, giveaways, and more! Help spread the word.
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Did you know that GROW Racine is helping City residents launch great careers in the construction and building trades? It's true!
Super proud of these three City residents who graduated on Friday from WRTP / BIG STEP's Southeast Wisconsin Roadbuilders Program. All three received City of Racine, On the lake GROW Racine pre-apprenticeship scholarships to encourage & support them while they were enrolled in this training program.
Up next for these residents? Great careers with family-supporting wages, lifelong learning, and benefits!
Learn more about how the City is investing in our residents to rebuild and grow our City! www.growracine.org/careers-in-the-trades/
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Our Youth Employment Program is one of the many ways the City of Racine, On the lake is investing in our residents' futures. Applications are now open for this summer's 8-week paid youth jobs with the City! Learn more and get the application here www.growracine.org/youth-employment/
#GROWRacine #CityofRacineMeet Tihane A.! Tia is a former Summer Youth Employment Program participant who was then hired to continue working for the City of Racine. Read more about Tia’s experiences in the interview below:
*The YEP application is OPEN! Learn more here: www.growracine.org/youth-employment/
Q: What was your position with the City of Racine?
A: My position in the city was a Summer Youth Employee in the Human Resources department.
Q: What motivated you to apply?
A: I needed an internship for one of my classes at Gateway Technical College. The application was sent to me by a classmate. I figured if all goes well, I will have an internship and a pretty unique experience.
Q: What were some skills you learned?
A: I gained a better understanding of what the different departments in the city do from an insider’s point of view. And I (of course) got to see the process behind how someone is hired and interviewed, setting up benefits and a glimpse of what goes into setting up the wellness activities for the city employees.
Q: What’s it like working in city government as a young person?
A: It’s a little weird… I feel like I should have had office experience and have been in school for something business related to work here, but I work here without it.
Q: How do you explain your job to other people at school?
A: I just explain that I help the hiring process along, I file part-time applicants, set up interviews, pre-employment drug screenings and orientations, run background checks, then call applicants to offer them the job.
I have also been helping create the wellness calendars, bingos, and word searches.
Q: What do you wish you knew before this job?
A: I wish I knew that it’s not as intimidating as I thought it would be and the experience is going to be whatever you make it. Before starting I assumed working in an office (especially for it to be the city), it would be really dull, strictly work, and no room for mistakes.
It’s not like that at all, I work with a very nice group of people who are very patient and understanding. They would rather me ask a lot of questions and do the job right, than to not say anything at all and do it wrong.
Q: How will this internship impact your future goals?
A: The Youth Employment Program has made a very big impact on my future plans. Before coming into the program, I was at a point in school where I did not really know what I wanted to do. I just knew the demographic I wanted to work with and a few careers I thought I would be good at or could see myself doing.
But after the program and now working here for a while I have a clear understanding of what I want to do career-wise and feel confident that when the time comes I will be able to do my job well 🙂
Q: What advice do you have for other students who are applying for any internships?
A: My advice for applying for any internships would be to choose something that you think would be the best fit for you. Also that internships are pretty low stakes, you’re just doing it to get experience in the field and get your foot in the door. It will teach you the things you do and do not like about the field you may go into or that company/organization. Which can be a tool when choosing the rest of your classes, another internship, or figuring out what you want to do as a career.
Getting to work with the city while in this program, is such a new and fun experience and can open a lot of doors to new opportunities.
Another thing I would want those applying to YEP to know is that Kischa tries to make sure that everyone is having a good experience from this and includes activities that are fun and beneficial to the employees. For example, for one of the cohort days we went canoeing then had a lunch from the fire department or people from Gateway came to help the employees build their resumes. ... See MoreSee Less
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Thanks to Racine County Eye for highlighting the enrollment event the City of Racine, On the lake's GROW Racine team, YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, and Gateway Technical College are hosting this Saturday!
Know a City resident who's ready to go back to school to earn their high school credential? Make sure to tell 'em about this event, where we'll help them with every step of the enrollment process AND they can apply for the City's $1500 GROW Racine HSED Scholarship. #GROWRacine #CityofRacine ... See MoreSee Less
High School Equivalency Diploma enrollment and $1,500 scholarship event this Saturday in Racine | Racine County Eye
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RACINE — The City of Racine is hosting a 5.09 High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) event to recruit and enroll interested individuals for classes that begin0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We're GROW-ing Racine's future success by helping adult City residents earn their HSEDs and transform their futures!
Spread the word about this Saturday's enrollment session! #GROWRacine #CityofRacine ... See MoreSee Less
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