The Step-Up Apprenticeship Initiative of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale (HACFL) was created in 1995 to provide low-income public housing residents access to education, job skills, and employment opportunities while working to rehabilitate the housing stock of their community. In 1997, the Step-Up Apprenticeship expanded its recruitment to include low-income residents of the city of Fort Lauderdale. Many of the apprentices are between the ages of 18 to 35 years of age.

The primary objective of the Step-Up Apprenticeship Initiative is to provide a rigorous and disciplined training curriculum, and provide the participants the opportunity to create a portfolio of skills training and education to increase their potential for permanent employment and economic self-sufficiency

The Step-Up Apprenticeship Initiative is a state certified apprenticeship program that prepares its participants to receive their state certification in Building Maintenance and Repair, as well as their GEDs if necessary. All Step-Up Apprentices are registered with the State of Florida Department of Education, Apprenticeship Division. As a registered apprenticeship program, the Step-Up Apprenticeship has developed technical classroom training and on-the-job training. Experienced union and non-union journeymen at our training center, located at 901 NW 10th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, provide all hands on technical training.

While the Atlantic Technical School of the Broward County School Board provides the technical classroom training, any apprentice that needs to obtain a GED may attend Old Dillard Adult Education Center for the Adult Basic Education course or the GED preparatory course.

Step-Up Awards:

• 1998-99 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Best Practice Nominee, National Best Practice Symposium, Kansas City, Kansas
  
• 2000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Best Practice Local Winner, National Best Practice Symposium, Washington, D.C.