The Richmond Ed Fund, a nonprofit that helps fund initiatives within Richmond Public Schools, announced an $8 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies that will help launch a new program, RVA Builds.

The partnership between RPS, the City of Richmond and several businesses has the goal of producing 500 Richmond students that will complete paid, work-based experiences in skilled trades by the end of the 2028-2029 school year.

The investment is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' new $90 million national skilled trades initiative. Richmond was one of nine cities chosen for the opportunity.

Participating students will complete at least 120 hours of paid work. After graduation, industry partners have agreed to pay at least $23 per hour in total compensation.

In the press release, officials said that the initiative is in response to growing regional workforce needs, as the construction field alone has hundreds of projected annual openings that pay more than a living wage. 

“Fewer than 15 RPS graduates enter registered apprenticeships each year, and the largest employers of recent graduates are fast-food chains,” officials said. 

It also stems from the division’s Passion4Learning, a pillar of the RPS’ five year strategic plan, that partly focuses on Richmond’s public high school redesign and creating clearer pathways to college, career and national service. 

The Ed Fund will annually publish information on student participation, job placements, wage progression and retention data from the program. For cities looking to replicate the program, the organization will also develop a “Richmond Playbook” that will document the program’s design, contracts, curriculum and tools.

Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org