U.S. Department of Labor: Scaling Apprenticeship Through Sector-Based Strategies

The purpose of this grant program is to support sector-based approaches to expanding efforts to develop and implement apprenticeships on a national scale in key industry sectors. The overarching goals of this grant program are threefold: (1) to accelerate the expansion of apprenticeships to new industry sectors reliant on H-1B visas, (2) to promote the large-scale expansion of apprenticeships across the nation, and (3) to increase apprenticeship opportunities for all Americans. Grant funds will be awarded to institutions of higher education in partnership with national industry associations, which together seek to develop, implement, and take to a national scale a new apprenticeship model; or expand an existing apprenticeship program to a new industry sector or occupation or a new population, on a national scale.

Funding will be awarded to projects designed to:

• Expand apprenticeships to occupations that have not typically used apprenticeships to bring new entrants into the workforce. By focusing on information technology, advanced manufacturing, banking and finance, and healthcare, we can offer new job seekers opportunities and upskill those already employed in these industries to bolster the sector’s competitiveness.
• Increase the level of apprenticeship activity among a range of new employers within these industry sectors, particularly small and medium-sized businesses.
• Promote a sector-based approach to large-scale expansion of apprenticeships that include a paid, work-based learning component and a required educational or instructional component that results in the issuance of an industry-recognized credential and meet appropriate quality assurance standards.

Amount: $150,000,000 is available to fund approximately 30 proposals, with award amounts ranging from $1,000,000 to $12,000,000.

Eligibility: Grants under this program will be awarded to an apprenticeship partnership of public and private sector entities. The apprenticeship partnership, including the lead applicant, must include public and private sector entities. An entity cannot serve as more than one type of required partner for the purpose of meeting requirements. Eligible lead applicants include: a) an institution of higher education representing a consortium of institutions of higher education, as defined in Section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002); or b) a state system of higher education, such as a community college system office or a single state higher educational board.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=307212

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