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The construction labor pool in Oregon can expect to see more new faces once Constructing Hope finishes a planned expansion of its training facility in Northeast Portland.

The nonprofit, which helps connect people with jobs in construction, will use $300,000 from Prosper Portland to help pay for the $500,000 project. When work wraps up, Constructing Hope expects to be able to double the number of people graduating from its pre-apprenticeship program, from 100 each year to 200.

Constructing Hope provides free 10-week training programs to prepare people to enter construction trade apprenticeships. The majority of students in the program have faced barriers to jobs that pay middle-income wages due to a lack of higher education, experiences in the criminal justice systems and race discrimination in the workplace.

Graduates from the Constructing Hope pre-apprenticeship program receive assistance with job placement and career advancement from the nonprofit.

Constructing Hope leaders said they plan on tapping women- and minority-owned companies and small emerging firms to work on the expansion.

In addition to the money from Prosper Portland, Constructing Hope will pay for the expansion with a combination of other grants and donations.