Chisel and the Chime Scholars Foundation Team Up to Fund 10 Trade School Scholarships
Showing students a career in the trades is the first step. Helping them pay for the training is the next one.
At Built for the Bay, our skilled trades day at Levi's® Stadium in support of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, Chisel announced a new partnership with the Chime Scholars Foundation® (CSF), founded by financial technology company Chime®. Together, we will award 10 scholarships for the 2027–2028 academic year to help graduating high school students pursue trade school.
Why Scholarships, and Why Now
The trades are losing people faster than they are gaining them. For every five tradespeople who retire, only two replacements enter the workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Demand keeps climbing all the same.
326,000 U.S. construction job openings in July 2026, and an estimated 456,000 new workers needed to meet construction demand in 2027.
Tradespeople keep homes safe, businesses running, and essential infrastructure working. Cost should not be the reason a student who wants that career never starts it. These scholarships are meant to help remove that barrier as students move from high school into training that can lead to greater career opportunities and higher earnings.
From Seeing the Work to Starting the Work
Built for the Bay gave hundreds of Bay Area high school students a day of hands-on trade activities, live skills challenges, a look behind the scenes of stadium operations, and direct conversations with employers, apprenticeship programs, and training providers.
"You can't choose a career you've never had the chance to see." — Michael Fitzpatrick, President & Co-Founder, Chisel Industries
"Built for the Bay gives students a chance to experience the trades firsthand, meet the people building careers in them and understand where those paths can lead," Fitzpatrick said. "The trades offer young people a chance to do work that matters and build a career they can be proud of, and this event and subsequent scholarships are important steps toward giving more young people a real path into these careers."
The event is the public launch of a long-term initiative: to elevate the skilled trades, build visible career pathways for young people, and confront a workforce shortage that is already constraining Bay Area employers. The scholarships carry that work past a single day.
A Partner With a Track Record
Now in its fifth year, the Chime Scholars Foundation has awarded close to $10 million in scholarships to nearly 1,500 students across 546 institutions in 41 states. CSF offers renewable scholarships, career development, and mentorship, supporting students on paths that run from trade schools, apprenticeships, and technical certifications to community colleges and four-year universities.
Close to $10 million in scholarships. Nearly 1,500 students. 546 institutions in 41 states.
"Trade and technical education can open doors to rewarding careers and greater financial independence," said Jeni Izuel, president of the Chime Scholars Foundation. "Chisel's partnership will help students pursue the path that fits their goals. Together, we're helping them prepare for the future they see for themselves."
With the 49ers Foundation
Built for the Bay was held in support of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, which has invested more than $80 million in historically underserved Bay Area communities since 1991.
"We're so grateful to Chisel for partnering with the 49ers Foundation to bring 'Built for the Bay' to Levi's® Stadium," said Justin Prettyman, Executive Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director, San Francisco 49ers Foundation. "This event gives hundreds of Bay Area students the opportunity to work with their hands, meet industry professionals and explore new career pathways. The 49ers Foundation exists to support this kind of hands-on learning in our mission to educate and empower Bay Area youth and beyond."
How to Apply
The scholarships are for graduating high school students pursuing trade school in the 2027–2028 academic year. Application details are available from the Chime Scholars Foundation.
Read the full announcement on GlobeNewswire, and see how the day itself went in our Built for the Bay recap. To support scholarships, apprenticeships, or the next Built for the Bay, get in touch.
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