Mayor Lurie, Speaker Emerita Pelosi Celebrate the Landmark CityBuild Program's 20th Anniversary

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today was joined by U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, California Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Stewart Knox, and members of the Board of Supervisors along with labor and trade leaders to celebrate the 20th anniversary of CityBuild. A nationally recognized construction training program, CityBuild provides career pathways for San Francisco residents into the building and construction trades.

For two decades, the program has transformed lives, strengthened communities, and helped shape the city’s skyline. Since its inception, CityBuild has graduated over 2,100 San Franciscans across its various programs and placed nearly 1,800 residents in union apprenticeships, a stellar 86% placement rate. Their graduates enter union apprenticeships with a high degree of knowledge, skills, and confidence, obtaining a Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) certification, the nationally recognized training developed by the North America’s Building Trades Unions.

In his first months in office, Mayor Lurie has taken steps to kickstart San Francisco’s comeback by accelerating building projects and bringing new investment to the city. In February, he launched PermitSF to make the city’s permitting system customer-focused, faster, and more transparent and make it easier to open a small business and build new homes. Earlier this month, he introduced his “family zoning” plan to build more housing so the next generation of San Franciscans can afford to raise their kids in the city, while taking and supporting legislation in February, March, and April to encourage housing development downtown.

“For 20 years, CityBuild has set the standard for how government, labor, and the private sector can come together to open the door to new careers and expand the workforce that builds and maintains our city,” said Mayor Lurie. “CityBuild delivers impact directly to our neighbors and communities that need it most. San Francisco is on the rise, and we need to invest in our downtown and our neighborhoods and build more housing so the next generation of San Franciscans can afford to raise their kids here. In all of those efforts, we rely on CityBuild and the partners who make it possible.”

“For 20 years, CityBuild has created a path to good-paying jobs for thousands of hard-working San Franciscans,” said Speaker Emerita Pelosi. “CityBuild has changed lives and strengthened families—building healthier communities and expanding our city’s middle class. Today’s celebration honors not just CityBuild’s legacy, but the people whose futures have been built through its success.”

“CityBuild was born from a vision I shared with Supervisor Sophie Maxwell for a construction workforce development program to uplift San Francisco’s local economy. Built on the principle that we are stronger together, this community-labor partnership has harnessed the power of the City College of San Francisco, community nonprofits, labor unions, and industry employers to refer and train San Franciscans for construction projects,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “CityBuild’s success has far exceeded my expectations, and it brings me tremendous pride that the program serves as a nationwide model for how to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”

“CityBuild gave me a career I love and helped me grow mentally and professionally,” said Meg-Anne Pryor, CityBuild alumna. “Coming up in Bayview, I didn’t know what a career in construction could look like, but this program showed me I have a place in the trades. Now, as a journeyperson and apprenticeship coordinator, I get to help others from communities like mine start careers of their own—and that feels really good.”

CityBuild equips graduates with foundational skills, launching their careers in every critical construction trade, from carpentry to welding. CityBuild alumni have contributed to iconic projects like Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Chase Center, Salesforce Tower, Salesforce Transit Terminal, the Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island development project, SFO’s terminal expansions, Mission Rock development, and the Central Subway. Many students come from backgrounds with limited access to stable, high-paying careers, and CityBuild is a powerful launchpad to long-term economic security.

“As we celebrate 20 years of CityBuild, I’m reminded of the incredible impact this program has had on our communities,” said District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton. “CityBuild is more than just a workforce development initiative—it’s a pathway to opportunity, empowerment, and transformation for so many San Franciscans, especially those from underrepresented neighborhoods. For two decades, it has been a bridge to careers in the building trades, giving people the skills they need to build not only our city but their own futures. As we look ahead, we must continue to invest in this spirit of growth and community, ensuring that our workforce is ready to meet the challenges of a changing world while creating an inclusive, sustainable future for all.”

Strong public-private partnerships drive CityBuild’s success. By collaborating with labor unions, employers, community organizations, the city, and institutions like UCSF, the program effectively prepares local residents for high-demand construction careers and meets industry labor needs. CityBuild excels at aligning partner interests, consistently delivering opportunities for residents, supporting employers, and fulfilling labor demands through union partnerships that prepare pre-apprentices with the trade skills that lead to future success.

“CityBuild’s training program has created a talent pipeline that works,” said Michelle Leonard-Bell, Executive Director of Mission Hiring Hall. “We’ve seen firsthand how this program prepares individuals with not only the technical skills, but the mindset and professionalism to thrive in the industry.”

“Hiring from CityBuild means hiring someone who shows up prepared and job-ready on day one. That kind of reliability and skill set is invaluable to an industry that depends on precision, safety, and teamwork,” said Lori Dunn-Guion, Senior Vice President of Swinerton. “We’re always proud to build with CityBuild talent.”

“CityBuild is the gold standard for public-private partnerships using NABTU's Multi-Craft Core Curriculum,” said Rudy Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council. “It prepares union-ready pre-apprentices who reflect the communities we serve and meet the needs of our trades. Each cohort helps us make real the promise of a path to the middle class for San Franciscans, and that path runs right through our union hiring halls.”

“We are proud to have been strong supporters of CityBuild from its inception and celebrate the impact it has made in our industry,” said Jay Bradshaw, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Nor Cal Carpenters Union. “From the beginning, we worked hand-in-hand to develop the program that prepares pre-apprentices from diverse backgrounds with the skills necessary to be successful for employers in the construction industry. Graduates of CityBuild have built family supporting careers that have provided housing and everyday necessities, including healthcare for their families. Many have become leaders and mentors in the industry as well as the union. The ability to uplift all is what makes our partnership rewarding.”

As an internationally recognized model of workforce innovation, cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, and Cork, Ireland, have studied the program as they look to replicate San Francisco’s approach to connecting economic development with equitable workforce access.

“When CityBuild was founded, it was about creating pathways for San Franciscans to be part of the city’s growth,” said Chris Iglesias, Founding Director of CityBuild. “With the support of then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, and the continued partnerships across labor and community, the program has stayed focused on equity, opportunity, and results.”

“CityBuild represents what workforce development should be—responsive to industry needs, rooted in equity, and focused on long-term impact,” said Iowayna Peña, Director of Workforce Development for OEWD. “As we look to the future, CityBuild will continue to play a critical role in preparing San Franciscans for the careers that are shaping our city—and ensuring those opportunities remain accessible to the communities who call it home.”