A nonprofit in East New York is helping residents build careers in welding. The BOTT Foundation, which stands for Brighter Opportunities Through Trade, has offered training classes for the past decade.

"The need for welders are growing tremendously," said Leslie Lambert, founder of the BOTT Foundation. "Right now, New York City is not one of those places where you have a lot of places pathways to learn the trade."

BOTT is one of five organizations recently selected to share a $1.4 million from the East Brooklyn Workforce Development Fund. The grant will allow 25 students to take part in the three-month program for free.

"We issue legitimate welding certifications. That's a requirement for them to go to the Department of Buildings in New York City to get an actual welding license. And that's actually the pathway to individuals getting solid jobs in employment from like MTA, National Grid, Con Edison and getting into unions," said Lambert.

The program also helps students find jobs, as well as provide access to other career resources.