Team Rubicon is announcing an additional investment by Chevron towards the proposed TRades Academy to train skilled tradespeople. The $100,000 grant by Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit is expected to fuel the growth of the TRades Academy being developed by Team Rubicon to fill the gap of skilled trades professionals in times of crisis.
“We are grateful for the support of Chevron and this investment into our new TRades Academy,” said Art delaCruz, CEO of Team Rubicon, adding "This grant enables us to build and execute this program, allowing Team Rubicon to aid communities and speed recovery after disasters through workforce development in the skilled trades so critical to rebuilding."
Team Rubicon's mission
The country continues to witness a critical shortage of credentialed contractors with the skills required to provide homeowners with efficient and high-quality rebuild and repair services.
Team Rubicon is keen to address the shortage and serve more communities in need
Team Rubicon's mission to support communities before, during, and after disasters and crises continues to be negatively impacted by this shortage. Team Rubicon is keen to address the shortage and serve more communities in need by establishing the TRades Academy with the support of partners like Chevron.
TRades Academy program
The TRades Academy program is set to address this shortage by providing veterans and civilians with trade skills including contracting, electrical, plumbing, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning through the Long Term Recovery Program to then use within their own communities.
The Academy is set to enable Team Rubicon to begin significantly scaling rebuild operations by the end of 2025, while providing students the credentials and field experience needed to become certified contractors in their own communities.
Real difference in communities
“For years, we’ve worked side-by-side with Team Rubicon to help those most in need,” said Leah Brown, Public Affairs Manager of Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit.
Leah Brown adds, “We’re proud to continue to support them as they help our neighbours who have been affected by disasters restore hope and recover. Team Rubicon’s mission to bring equitable relief before, during, and after a disaster has made a real difference in communities across the Gulf Coast - and around the world. We thank them for their partnership.”
Disaster relief work
Chevron generously supports Team Rubicon's resilience and response work in the Gulf
Chevron's Gulf of Mexico Business Unit has been investing in Team Rubicon since 2020, granting a total of nearly $1 million for responses to Hurricanes Laura, Ida, and Ian.
Year after year, Chevron generously supports Team Rubicon's resilience and response work in the Gulf, particularly in Texas and Louisiana. Their grants have funded volunteer training programs and immediate disaster relief work across the Gulf region. Now, after years of partnership, Chevron is pivoting to support a new TR initiative.
Long-term recovery space
Team Rubicon has been in the long-term recovery space for half a decade, launching seven rebuild operations for communities struggling to recover from disasters since the pilot rebuild operation first launched in Houston following Hurricane Harvey. To date, the teams have rebuilt more than 500 roofs and 200 homes for vulnerable families and individuals from Alaska to Puerto Rico.
The humanitarian organisation continues to successfully identify homeowners struggling the most to recover from disasters and provide the necessary rebuild and repair services to restore the safety and health of their homes.
