The Department of Labor just announced the details of a new $100 million grant competition to “expand registered apprenticeship programs in high-skilled, high-growth industries like healthcare, biotechnology, information technology and advanced manufacturing.”
The American Apprenticeship Grant program, which has been discussed by Administration officials for several months now, is designed to help expand apprenticeships beyond the career fields traditionally served by such programs into more high-tech industries.
Approximately 25 grants will be awarded to partnerships of at least one public and one private entity. The public-entity portion of the partnership may include an organization administering the workforce investment system, a public education or training provider, or a DOL-recognized State Apprenticeship Agency. Other partners may also be included. Grants will range from $2.5 million to $5 million each and will be awarded from H-1B visa fees, a source that has been tapped for innovative job training programs in the past. New apprenticeships must align with other postsecondary education programs and create career pathways for students.
“An apprenticeship is the 'other 4-year degree'. It is a tried and true job training strategy that offers a reliable path to the middle class, with no debt,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez as he announced the grants on December 11 at the Urban Technology Project's Information Technology registered apprenticeship program in Philadelphia. “I encourage everyone to apply for this federal grant so that we can significantly scale apprenticeships opportunities for many more Americans in new industries and occupations.”
Grant applications are due on April 30, 2015. You can access application materials and apply at http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=270372, and access more resources for potential grantees at http://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/.
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