This is your weekly AAI grantee community update with upcoming events and new resources.
Upcoming NGA Events:
- NGA is planning on sharing a cohort contact list including names and email addresses for each AAI grantee. If you do not want your contact information shared with your peers, please email Kristin Baddour at kbaddour@nga.org.
Apprenticeship Resources:
- Department of Labor (DOL) Announces First Group of Standards Recognition Entities for Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs: The U.S. DOL announced that it has recognized an initial 18 organizations as Standards Recognition Entities (SREs) to oversee the development of high-quality Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs).
- Open Funding Opportunities – Are you looking for open apprenticeship funding opportunity announcements? Open opportunities include grants and contracts issued by the U.S. Department of Labor designed to support apprenticeship expansion. Here you can find these opportunities to help you get started.
- 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
- Norcross Introduces Legislation to Expand Apprenticeships, Invest in Workforce Training (Insider NJ): U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-1) introduced a proposal to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act that would create nearly one million new Registered Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and pre-apprenticeship positions over the next five years.
- 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.
- City of Bloomington Supports Free Biomanufacturing Tech Apprenticeship Program Accepting Students for October (com): The Biomanufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Program was developed by Hoosier Hills Career Center, in partnership with Ivy Tech, WorkOne, and industry partners Catalent and Boston Scientific.
- New Apprenticeship Program is Putting People to Work in Tech Field, Amid the Pandemic (New4SanAntonio): Digital Creative Institute is providing tech apprenticeships in cyber security, data analytics, software development and digital marketing, and the experience-based program has been recognized by the department of labor for helping put people to work during the pandemic.
- California Central Valley Congressman Josh Harder Introduces Bill to Provide College Credit for Apprenticeships (Sierra Sun Times): Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) introduced the Apprenticeships to College Act, which would expand a program allowing skilled workers to earn college credit for apprenticeships they’ve already completed.
- Maine Coast Heritage Trust Offers Paid Farming Apprenticeships (VS Knox): The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Apprenticeship Program is working with Maine Coast Heritage Trust to provide apprentices with additional free training and networking opportunities.
- Kilili Introduces Apprenticeship Expansion Act (Marianas Variety): Apprenticeship program in the Marianas would receive new funding under terms of legislation introduced by U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, The Outlying Areas Apprenticeship Expansion Act.
- UNCW and CFCC Received $196,782 Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program Grant (edu): University of North Carolina-Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College have been awarded a $196,782 grant from the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program to develop the UNCW-CFCC Collaborative Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program.
