"Roots to Roofs"
Apprenticeship & Innovation Pitch Program

"Roots to Roofs" is a hands-on apprenticeship and entrepreneurship program designed to train, mentor, and empower Missouri’s next generation of sustainability leaders. Participants receive paid training in green construction, land remediation, urban farming, and environmental legal advocacy—culminating in a statewide innovation challenge to launch youth-led, community-based enterprises.

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The program leverages support from the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Youth Opportunities Program (YOP)—a powerful state incentive that offers tax credits to businesses and individuals who contribute to approved youth development initiatives. Through YOP, the program will partner with employers, contractors, and community organizations to provide job-site apprenticeships, industry mentorship, and startup support for young entrepreneurs interested in agriculture, land stewardship, and climate innovation.

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Roots to Roofs aims to build a skilled and inspired workforce that can lead Missouri’s transition to a more resilient, sustainable economy—starting from the ground up.