We don't just teach a trade.
We rebuild a life.
The Heaven-Sent Job Training Program combines classroom instruction with real paid field work — giving veterans, people with disabilities, seniors, and justice-involved individuals the skills, certification, and employment they need to build a lasting future in Central Florida's trades.
PPE & work clothing
at no cost
A real job, not just a training certificate.
Most job training programs end with a handshake and a piece of paper. Ours ends with a paycheck — because participants work real jobs on real Celestial Contractors sites from the moment they enter the field phase. They earn while they learn, build a portfolio of completed work, and graduate with documented experience and a verified employer reference.
The program was designed to remove every common barrier: transportation assistance, work clothing and PPE provided at no cost, scheduling flexibility for participants managing disability or caregiving needs, and attendance coaching throughout. We don't set people up to fail and call it training.
Four phases. Zero shortcuts.
Every participant moves through all four phases in sequence. You can't skip classroom to get to the field, and you can't graduate without documented job performance. That's what makes the certification mean something.
Readiness & Life Skills
- Work readiness orientation
- Professional communication
- Workplace safety & OSHA basics
- Financial literacy foundations
- Resume, references & interview prep
- Setting & holding employment goals
Technical Classroom Training
- Interior & exterior painting technique
- Surface prep, priming & finishing
- Pressure washing & soft-wash safety
- Drywall patching & repair
- Equipment maintenance & storage
- Tool safety, ladders & scaffolding
- Reading work orders & estimates
Paid Field Experience
- Embedded in real Celestial crews
- Supervised by experienced crew lead
- Paid wages from first field day
- Real residential & commercial jobs
- Weekly performance evaluations
- Photo portfolio of completed work
- Continued classroom check-ins weekly
Placement & Retention
- Internal hire consideration at Celestial
- External job placement with employer partners
- 90-day retention coaching & check-ins
- Verified employer reference letter
- Alumni Peer Mentor connection
- Ongoing access to Heaven-Sent support
The classroom is where we build the foundation.
Six weeks of structured technical classroom instruction at Heaven-Sent's training facility in Kissimmee. Small class sizes — never more than 12 participants per cohort — so every student gets direct attention from the instructor, not just a seat in a room.
Classes run on a schedule that accommodates disability needs, caregiving responsibilities, and transportation realities. If you need a different time, we work with you. The goal is to get you through the program — not to create reasons you can't finish it.
Painting Fundamentals
Surface prep, primer selection, brush control, roller technique, cut lines, and color matching.
Pressure & Soft Wash
Equipment operation, PSI calibration by surface type, chemical handling, and mold/mildew treatment.
Drywall & Patching
Hole and crack repair, compound mixing, texture matching, feathering, and seamless finishing.
Safety & OSHA
Ladder safety, fall protection, PPE requirements, chemical labeling, and site hazard identification.
Tools & Equipment
Power washer maintenance, sprayer calibration, brush care, and proper equipment storage.
Work Orders & Estimates
Reading job orders, measuring square footage, understanding written estimates, and client communication.
The job site is the classroom that counts.
Starting in Week 10, every participant joins a working Celestial Contractors crew on real residential and commercial job sites across Osceola, Orange, and Seminole Counties. They wear the uniform, use the tools, follow the checklist, and get paid — because that's the only way to build a real work history.
Embedded with Experienced Crews
Trainees work alongside seasoned Celestial crew members, not in simulated environments. The supervision is real, the feedback is immediate, and the standard is the same as any paying job.
Paid From Day One
Field participants receive wages from their first day on a job site. No unpaid internships. No volunteer hours that don't count. Real pay for real work, starting week 10.
Weekly Performance Evaluations
Each week the crew lead completes a written evaluation covering quality of work, professionalism, attendance, and safety compliance. These evaluations feed directly into the graduation record.
Photo Portfolio of Completed Work
Every participant leaves with a documented portfolio of jobs they completed — before/after photos, addresses, and scope of work — that they can show any future employer.
All Three Counties
Field work assignments span Osceola, Orange, and Seminole Counties — giving trainees geographic exposure and building familiarity with the full service territory.
Continued Classroom Check-Ins
Field participants attend weekly classroom sessions throughout Phase 3 — reviewing job-site experiences, reinforcing safety, and preparing for Phase 4 placement.
Every week accounted for. Every skill documented.
This is the full program laid out phase by phase. Every participant receives a written curriculum guide on day one so they know exactly what is expected, when, and how they'll be evaluated. No surprises.
Readiness & Life Skills
The program starts before the tools come out. Participants learn how to show up — consistently, professionally, and prepared — before they ever pick up a brush.
- Work readiness orientation & expectations
- Professional communication on the job site
- Conflict resolution & team dynamics
- Financial literacy — budgeting, banking, taxes
- Resume writing & interview preparation
- Setting employment goals & tracking progress
- Understanding benefits & worker rights
- Transportation planning & punctuality skills
Technical Classroom Training
Six weeks of hands-on technical instruction using real tools in controlled environments — no live client sites yet, but real materials, real equipment, and real standards.
- OSHA 10-hour safety certification (included)
- Interior painting — surface prep, primer, cut & roll
- Exterior painting — weather prep, Florida coatings
- Pressure washing — PSI by surface, chemical safety
- Drywall patch, texture match & invisible repair
- Ladder safety, scaffolding, fall protection
- Equipment care, cleaning & storage procedures
- Reading work orders, checklists & estimates
Paid Field Experience
Nine weeks embedded in Celestial Contractors crews on real jobs. This is where classroom skills become documented experience. Participants earn wages and build their portfolio simultaneously.
- Residential interior & exterior painting
- Commercial property pressure washing
- Property cleanup & debris removal
- Unit turnover & make-ready preparation
- Drywall repair on active job sites
- Weekly written performance evaluations
- Photo-documented work portfolio built weekly
- Mid-phase and end-phase supervisor review
Placement & 90-Day Retention
Graduation is not the end of the relationship. We track 90-day retention on every graduate and stay connected through Heaven-Sent's peer support and case management network.
- Internal Celestial hire evaluation
- External employer placement partners
- Verified employer reference letter issued
- Completion certificate & work portfolio package
- 30 / 60 / 90-day check-in calls
- Alumni Peer Mentor Program enrollment
- Ongoing Heaven-Sent case support available
- Six-month employment retention tracked & reported
We measure what matters — people with jobs.
These are our Year 1 through Year 3 projections based on the business plan and aligned with Department of Labor workforce-development outcome reporting standards. Every number is tracked, documented, and reported.
| Measure | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants enrolled | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| Completed training | 6 | 14 | 22 |
| Placed in paid work | 4 | 10 | 16 |
| 90-day retention target | 70% | 75% | 80% |
✅ DOL Workforce-Development Alignment
This program is structured to align directly with U.S. Department of Labor workforce-development priorities — documented enrollment, completion, and placement metrics with a verified employer partner, wraparound supportive services, and measurable 90-day retention outcomes. This is the model DOL workforce grant and partnership reviewers look for in a work-based learning proposal.
What graduates receive
We remove the barriers. You focus on the training.
The most common reasons people don't complete job training programs aren't about motivation — they're about logistics. Transportation. Clothing. Childcare. Scheduling. We deal with those so you can deal with learning.
Transportation Assistance
Bus passes, SunRail coordination, and ride-share assistance for participants who cannot get to training or job sites without help. We solve transportation before it becomes the reason someone drops out.
Work Clothing & PPE — Free
Every participant receives painter's clothing, steel-toed boots, safety glasses, gloves, and all required PPE at no cost. You show up. We make sure you're equipped.
Flexible Scheduling
Classroom sessions accommodate disability-related needs, medical appointments, and caregiving responsibilities. We work around your life to keep you in the program.
Mentoring & Peer Support
Each cohort is matched with a peer mentor who completed the program. Heaven-Sent's peer-to-peer support groups are available throughout training and after graduation.
Attendance & Retention Coaching
A dedicated coach checks in weekly with every active participant. If someone is struggling — with transportation, personal challenges, or the work itself — the coach addresses it before it becomes a dropout.
Benefits & VA Navigation
Heaven-Sent's caseworkers help veterans access GI Bill vocational benefits, VA work-study programs, and any other benefits that apply to training participation — maximizing income while in the program.
If you're ready, we're ready for you.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Cohorts start quarterly. We review every application personally — this is not an automated system — and we follow up directly within 3 business days.
There is no cost to apply. There is no cost to participate. If you are accepted, the training, tools, clothing, and PPE are provided. You bring the commitment. We bring everything else.
Who qualifies:
- U.S. veterans of any era or branch
- People with physical or cognitive disabilities
- Seniors re-entering the workforce
- Justice-involved individuals post-release
- Long-term unemployed adults
- Individuals with ADHD, Asperger's, or neurodivergence
- Osceola, Orange, or Seminole County residents
Application steps:
Submit the form
Fill out the form with your background and goals. No essay required — just the basics.
Phone intake call
A Heaven-Sent team member calls you within 3 business days for a 15-minute conversation.
Program orientation
Accepted participants attend a half-day orientation before the first week of classes.
Start Week 1
You show up. We take it from there.
Employers, agencies, and funders — partner with the program.
Looking to hire trained, vetted tradespeople? Interested in a workforce development partnership or grant opportunity? The Heaven-Sent Job Training Program is DOL-aligned, outcome-tracked, and ready to build formal employer and funder relationships.