DOL awards $81M to expand registered apprenticeships
Daily Staff
July 1, 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) this week awarded $80.6 million in grants to help states improve and expand registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs).
Building State Capacity to Expand Apprenticeship through Innovation grants would strengthen the national apprenticeship system, promote system alignment and partnerships and improve data sharing and data integrity, according to DOL.
The program supports statewide RAP expansion through a two-tiered funding system. The grants give states maximum flexibility to address local apprenticeship needs while enhancing the focus on employer engagement, DOL said.
The department awarded Tier I grants, typically $450,000, to workforce development agencies in 42 states and U.S. territories.
The department also awarded Tier II grants, ranging from $3 million to $9 million, to 11 states: Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.
Tier II grants are based on the number and quality of Tier II applications received, as well as strong evidence of past performance in expanding RAPs.
