Phoenix nonprofit gets over $500K to keep training women for nontraditional careers

PHOENIX – A Phoenix-based nonprofit was awarded more than $500,000 in grant funding to expand opportunities for women pursuing apprenticeships and careers in nontraditional fields.

Fresh Start Women’s Foundation was one of five recipients of Department of Labor funding, picking up $542,358, the nonprofit announced last week.

The foundation will put the money toward supporting women who are interested in working in construction, technology, finance and manufacturing, among other fields where they are underrepresented.

“We know that when you lift a woman out of poverty by giving her access to skills and training that allow her to earn self-sustainable wages, you change her life, her children, and generations to come,” Fresh Start CEO and President Kim McWaters said in a press release.

The foundation said a dozen women in semiconductor training landed jobs averaging $48,000 in starting salary after finishing the program. They had been earning an average of $28,000 when they signed up.

“Fresh Start Women’s Foundation works to empower Arizona women through education, workshops and mentorships to fuel their personal and professional growth and help them achieve their goals,” U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) said in a separate press release, adding the grant will continue supporting that mission.

A portion of the grants will help participants pay for child care, tuition, transportation and work-related gear.

“These grants will continue the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation’s important work to create more pathways for Arizona women to access good-paying jobs to support themselves and their families,” U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said in a release.

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