Building Union Diversity Program (BUD STL)

The Apprentice Ready Program is a workforce program offered by the Missouri Works Initiative. The program introduces, trains, and connects people to high-paying, rewarding career in the construction trades. This 5-week construction pre-apprenticeship creates an industry-recognized entry point into the trades, creating a more skilled and equitable workforce. The Building Union Diversity Program (BUD) is the St. Louis-based version of the Apprentice Ready Program. Visit the Apprentice Ready Program webpage for more information and to apply for the program.

Upcoming BUD STL Class Dates:

• July 28 – August 29, 2025
• September 29 – October 31, 2025

MSD partners with the BUD Program to advocate for increased diversity within the construction trades – a key commitment outlined in our Community Benefits Agreement. While MSD is not directly involved in the training of pre-apprentices, we work closely with the BUD Program to connect its participants with industry opportunities. This includes recommending BUD graduates to our prime contractors and subcontractors for workforce placement on MSD projects.

Additionally, MSD will occasionally hire BUD Program graduates directly when suitable internal openings become available. Our support of the BUD Program reflects our ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and representative workforce across the communities we serve, while also providing contractors with access to qualified workers to help meet MSD’s Diversity Program workforce goal requirements.

Click the link above for an article about the BUD Program from the St. Louis American, which originally appeared in their 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion edition (pg. 9). Featured in the article is Larry Woods, MSD’s Diversity Construction Supervisor, who speaks on how the program is creating opportunities and removing barriers for the underserved population in St. Louis.

On May 9, 2024, the MSD Board of Trustees adopted Ordinance No. 16354, which appropriated $200,000 to be used to provide construction workforce training and development in sewer construction occupations for unemployed and underemployed individuals within MSD’s service area. The Missouri Works Initiative was contracted to provide this training through BUD STL and received the funds in the form of the Workforce Development Grant, which covered approximately 63% of the program’s expenses for FY2025.

The grant was renewed in early 2025 for BUD STL’s FY2026 program expenses, and may be renewed each year for the next three years at MSD’s discretion.