CityBuild Construction Training Program
What is CityBuild?
CityBuild Academy (CBA) is a 12-week pre-apprenticeship training program that teaches and trains San Francisco residents on a number of construction trades. Through the instruction of City College of San Francisco, students will go through intensive hands-on training and develop skills for various trades.
CCSC staff will provide all interested applicants with immediate application assistance, pre-vocational job readiness training and case management services. Upon earning their industry trade certificate, CityBuild graduates will have access to union job referral services.
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The program is tuition-free and no prior industry experience is needed. It is funded and administered by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) in partnership with City College of San Francisco (CCSF)* and other Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
​​*The City College of San Francisco curriculum revolves around some of the following topics: Construction Industry Orientation, Apprentice Structure, Math for Construction, Job Safety Training, Tool and Material Identification, Intro to Structural Steel and Ironwork, Framing, etc. ​​​
​Duration: 12 Weeks
Upcoming Start Date: TBD
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Language of Instruction: English
Eligibility: To be eligible for the CityBuild program, you need the following:
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Driver’s License
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DMV Printout
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High School Diploma
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Social Security Card
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Proof of SF Residency
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Vaccination Card (Highly Recommended)
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Cost: There is no cost for participating in the program.​​
​​How to Apply: To apply for the CityBuild Program please submit an interest form. You can also visit either of our offices to complete an enrollment application. If you have any questions about the program, feel free to call us at 415-989-8224 or email us at info@sfccsc.org. ​​
Chinatown:
731-747 Commercial Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
Bayview:
1550 Evans Avenue, Suite 301A
San Francisco, CA 94124
​Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: Closed
For Graduates
Construction Career Development Services (CCDS)
The Construction Career Development Services (CCDS) Retention Program re-engages CityBuild Academy graduates through connecting with CityBuild Employment Liaisons, Community Based Organizations and other CCDS resources, to provide post training assistance.
CCDS continues providing supportive services to assist the graduates retaining in the field as well as in further developing their career paths. Trade Application Assistance Project (TAAP) is one of the most welcomed components of CCDS to prepare current trainees and graduates to apply for jobs in their prospective trades.
Students are taught various subjects, such as mechanical reasoning, spatial ability, and trades math, in preparation for taking their trade exams. Classes are held during the active cycle every Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM at the City College of San Francisco Evans Campus.
Success Story
Vincent Liang, a father of two immigrated from China and is a graduate of CityBuild Academy. Vincent was employed in non-union construction as a handyman in 2021, with a strong desire to transition into union construction upon his immigration to the USA. He dedicated approximately one year to learning as a handyman. However, obtaining sponsorship within a construction union posed a significant challenge.
Upon learning about CityBuild Academy(CBA), Vincent decided to apply for it in 2022. His primary goal was to learn professional hands-on skills through CBA, enabling him to enter trades in which he could establish a long-term career. Through determination and focus, Vincent successfully completed the CityBuild Academy program and became a Carpenter with Local 22.
More Success Stories
“It’s been a long journey, and I am finally not dreaming, because I am not classified as a dreamer anymore. I am getting my green card, and I am going to be a productive Union American… the mason is just the beginning …”
Luis Jimenez, CBA 26
“Although I had some construction experience before, CityBuild opened a door towards a whole different world of the trades for me — a Union trade member. Being in the Union you will be provided with prevailing wage, all kinds of benefits, and professional and systematic training. I couldn’t even imagine all these would happen to me when I was working for non-union construction. Now I am a second-period carpenter apprentice at Local 22.
I already earned eleven welding certifications in our training center in my leisure time. I also had a concrete field testing technician certification as I am planning to be an inspector later. I want to learn as much as I can about this industry to build up myself so I can have my own business in the long run. Joining CBA (City Build Academy) is an experience you will never regret if you like construction.”
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- Vincent Liang, CBA, Cycle 37