American Institute for Innovative Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship Works - Education and Training for Rewarding Careers

Community of Practice Update: Week of July 13-17, 2020

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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)

  • Business Perspective on the Role of Apprenticeship in Recovery Efforts: Tuesday, July 21 from 1:30-2:30 pm Eastern
    • AAI Grantees are invited to hear from employers about how they are adapting to the COVID-19 workplace and how apprenticeship can support economic recovery. Speakers Roger Collins of Siemens Energy and Laura Beeth of Fairview Health Services will describe their current needs and challenges, the role of apprenticeship in the current economy, and how they are engaging with apprenticeship programs and building internal pathways for apprentice success. Register here.

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?
  • AAI Grant Closeout Webinar: This webinar, hosted on June 30th, reviewed the reasons and framework under which closeout process has been established. Please access the recording, slides, and FAQ here.
  • Peer-to-Peer Sector Focused Group Calls Summary: In June, four sector-specific calls were held with AAI grantees to discuss the impact to date, and the implications for the future, of the COVID-19 pandemic. The four sectors were: Health Care, Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, and Construction & Traditional Trades. Please find a summary of the calls here.
  • Connect Me to Construction Career$ – Virtual Workshop Series: The Seattle area regional Pre-apprenticeship Collaboration (RPAC) is hosting a video information series about the construction trades. This is a unique opportunity for youth and young adults to get a free, virtual introduction to industry professionals and family-wage careers in the building trades. The workshop series, hosted via Zoom, runs July 21st through August 13th with 2 sessions per week. Please register here.
  • DOL Funding Opportunity:
    • Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO): DOL announced $4.1M in grants to community organizations to recruit, mentor, train and retain more women in quality apprenticeships programs, and to help those women pursue successful careers in manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity, healthcare and other industries. This funding opportunity may include both RAPs and IRAPs. An applicant can apply for a grant between $350k-750K for a performance period of 24 months. Applications are due August 3, 2020. Further information can be found here.
  • S. Department of Education (DOE) Funding Opportunities:
    • Out-of-School Time Career Pathway Program: DOE issued a notice inviting applications from State Educational Agencies (SEAs) to provide students expanded options to participate in career pathways program, outside of regular school hours or as part of an expanded learning program, that lead to a recognized postsecondary credential such as a certification of completion of an apprenticeship in an in-demand industry sector or occupation. These discretionary grants are estimated to award between $375,000-$625,000 per year for five years for a project period of up to 60 months.
    • Education Stabilization Fund-Reimagine Workforce Preparation Grants Program: DOE announced a new student-centered grant competition to spur short-term education opportunities, entrepreneurship and economic growth as America begins to recover from COVID-19-related disruptions to education and our economy. $127.5 million from the CARES act has been allocated to this grant. Applications are due no later than Aug. 24, 2020, and DOE intends to make awards no later than Oct. 2020. Additional information on the grant opportunity can be found here.
  • DOL Comment Request: DOL is soliciting comments concerning a proposed authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ‘‘IRAP Program and Performance Reports for Standards Recognition Entities.” Comments are invited by July 27, 2020, and must be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID ETA-2020-0003. As a reminder, AAI grantees cannot use AAI grant funds towards IRAPS or IRAP development.
  • Manufacturer Interest in Reshoring, Hiring, and Apprenticeship Increasing During COVID-19 Pandemic [Report] (Thomas Insights): The latest Thomas Industrial Survey assessing the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on North American manufacturing released that companies are rethinking their supply chains and operation tactics to prepare for the new normal, including that industries that adopted more apprenticeship programs were overall less impacted by the lack of skilled labor readily available.

Apprenticeship in the News:

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