This is your weekly AAI grantee community update with upcoming events and new resources.
Upcoming NGA Events: (Please note that further details and information about other events can be found on the COP calendar)
- AAI Learning Network Call – September 23, 2020 at 4pm ET
- This final learning network call will give grantees an opportunity to reflect on participating in the AAI cohort, share achievements and lessons learned, and to share any recent accomplishments. Grantees will also hear reflections from the Department of Labor and NGA Center for Best Practices.
- Please join the call via the following link: https://zoom.us/j/98174536426
- Ahead of the call, please consider the following questions:
- What has been your biggest accomplishment through AAI?
- What has been the cohort’s biggest value-add to your apprenticeship work?
- What has been your most striking takeaway from participating in AAI?
- What are your plans once the AAI grant ends?
Apprenticeship Resources:
- S. Department of Labor (DOL) COVID Guidance: COVID guidance for apprenticeship grants and contracts, including for the AAI cohort, is now published on DOL’s COVID webpage. Topics include:
- How can grantees encourage their Registered Apprenticeship program to keep apprentices employed during the COVID-19 crisis?
- For AAI grantees, what are the expectations for employer outreach and activities, which normally require meeting with people?
- Can AAI grantees modify the budget and activities to build new capacity that is more resilient to emergencies like COVID-19?
Apprenticeship in the News
- Southwest Tennessee Community College Launches $1M U.S. Department of Labor IT Apprenticeship Program (AP News): Southwest Tennessee Community College launched its new apprenticeship program this fall that will provide 800 apprentices with a pathway to information technology (IT) careers over the course of four years.
- College Savings Iowa Funds Can Now Be Used for Apprenticeship Costs (KIWA Radio): The state program that allows parents and students to save for college is expanding the ways that money can be used, now allowing funds to be used for qualified apprenticeship programs.
- Northern Apprenticeship Program with Two-Year Colleges Receives COVID-19 Grant (Havre Daily News): Montana Governor Steve Bullock and Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian announced that just over $2.2M in funding is to be distributed to 19 projects supporting workforce development and remote education delivery for Montanans, including a program started by and administered by Montana State University-Northern.
- Apprenticeship Program for Skilled Workers in Tuscaloosa Will Open Soon (WBRC): The training center is a partnership between Premier Service Company, West Alabama Works, and the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, where experienced pros will be responsible for teaching younger workers.
- Wild Adventures and Wiregrass Team for Apprenticeship Program (Valdosta Today): Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Wild Adventures are partnering to provide an apprenticeship opportunity for Wild Adventures employees receiving training through Wiregrass’ Economic Development.
- Labor Department Approved Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist Apprenticeship Program (Woodworking Network): The woodworking industry can begin training apprentices to become “woodwork manufacturing specialists” under a new credentialing program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training, Office of Apprenticeship.
- Missouri Unveils New Statewide Apprenticeship Matching Service (Missouri Net): The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the start of a new statewide apprenticeship matching service, that helps employers with registered apprenticeship programs find aspiring apprentices.
- Texas A&M Employs Students as Cybersecurity Apprentices (EdScoop): The Texas A&M University partnered with a cybersecurity education group to give students experience monitoring and defending networks as they learn technical skills on-the-job through a new apprenticeship program.
