PYB Announces $50 Million Capital Project to Launch The Generator
New facility will connect thousands of young adults to skilled trades, healthcare, and technology careers through hands-on training, industry credentials, supportive services, and direct job placement.
PHILADELPHIA, September 25, 2026 — Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) announced plans today to build The Generator of Career Development & Economic Opportunity (The Generator), a $50 million capital project designed to close longstanding access gaps to careers in the skilled trades, construction, technology, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. The project aims to help thousands of young adults in Philadelphia and the surrounding region, particularly people of color from lower-income families and communities, build lasting careers in industries facing significant labor shortages.
“The Generator represents the continued evolution and deepening of PYB’s mission and the fulfillment of our Kinder-to-Career promise to youth and young adults. It ensures that the next generation has access to the tangible relationships, skills, experiences, and opportunities that can lead to meaningful careers and greater economic mobility.” — Ameen Akbar, PYB Chief Mission Officer
The Generator builds on a pipeline PYB has already established between youth development and economic mobility through its kinder-to-career framework delivered today at the “Sixth Man” Center and throughout the city. Together, PYB’s “Sixth Man” Center and The Generator will be the centerpieces of a campus supporting young people at every stage of growth — from childhood and adolescence through young adulthood and career entry.
A coalition of industry and civic partners have already committed to the project as connectors, employers, and facilitators, including Temple University, Jefferson Health Plan, Hanwha Philly Shipyard, and the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, while also generating public sector support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
PYB's role in the workforce ecosystem is to bridge the gap between disconnected young adults and existing workforce systems, combining long-term relationships, wraparound support, and employer-connected training that improves job readiness, placement, retention, and wage growth.
“It is simply too hard for young adults without a college degree and family connections with employers to find a pathway to economic independence and family sustaining income. PYB and our partners are building a high-value solution and set of opportunities right here on our campus in the middle of North Philadelphia. We believe The Generator will be a game changer for young adults and our City.” — Kenny Holdsman, PYB Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
PYB has raised 20% of the project's total raise during a quiet fundraising phase. Following today's public announcement, the organization plans to secure the remaining funds, break ground in Fall 2027, and open The Generator in Early 2029.
To get involved with PYB and The Generator project, please visit https://www.phillyyouthbasketball.org/thegenerator.
About Philadelphia Youth Basketball & The Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center
For more than a decade, Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) has transformed the lives of young people across Philadelphia, using basketball as an entry point to mentorship, skill-building, and long-term opportunity. PYB's mission is to develop young people as leaders by harnessing the power of basketball to support their academic, personal, and career growth. Its vision is a city where every young person has access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities needed to thrive and self-determine.
The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center brings that mission to life. A 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, it serves as a hub for holistic youth development — offering not just courts, but classrooms, career exposure, and consistent mentorship. Basketball is the draw; the pathway to a brighter future is the outcome.
CONTACT:
Max Raiken
856-938-8945
Comments