On Hold — Not Forgotten

Fresh Start was the program that started it all. Before Urban Family Development Center had a name, it had a vision — to give people returning home from incarceration real, marketable skills in the construction trades and connect them with employers who believe in second chances. Columbus has no shortage of people who need exactly that. And the construction industry has no shortage of jobs that need filling. Fresh Start was built to be the bridge.

We planned to launch in Fall 2020. Then COVID happened. The pandemic hit our community hard — it hit returning citizens even harder. Training programs shut down. Funding timelines shifted. We faced a choice: rush something out and risk doing it wrong, or hold it until we could do it right. We chose to wait. That decision still sits with us. We know what it costs someone to wait for an opportunity they need right now. But we also know what it costs when a program launches before it's ready — people show up, trust is built, and then the system fails them again. That is the one thing we refuse to do.

Fresh Start is currently on hold. There is no active enrollment and no set launch date. We are being honest about that because the people this program was built to serve deserve honesty above everything else. The need in Columbus has not shrunk. When Fresh Start opens, it will open for them — and we are committed to making sure that day comes.

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WHAT WE OFFER

Fresh Start was designed to meet people where they are. All participants study their specific trade while also receiving Job Readiness, Resume Writing, and Mock Interview training. Our holistic approach includes Decision Making, Addressing Think Errors, and referrals to GED Instruction and Parenting support. Training was set to be offered in the following trades:

  • Carpentry

  • Concrete Finishing

  • Electrical

  • Electronic Systems Technician

  • Floor Layer

  • Heavy Equipment Operator

  • HVAC

  • Insulating

  • Masonry

  • Painting

  • Pipefitting

  • Plumbing

  • Roofing

Fresh Start is currently on hold. There is no active enrollment and no set launch date. We are being honest about that because the people this program was built to serve deserve honesty above everything else. The need in Columbus has not shrunk. When Fresh Start opens, it will open for them — and we are committed to making sure that day comes.

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