Rep. Kaptur Encourages Local Northern Ohio Apprenticeship Programs to Compete for ApprenticeshipUSA Industry Intermediary Contracts
July 2, 2016
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) is encouraging apprenticeship programs in northern Ohio to submit applications for a Department of Labor program, “ApprenticeshipUSA Industry Intermediary Contracts,” that will allow local or regional apprenticeship programs to expand to meet the occupational and skill needs of their respective industries. The deadline for such applications is July 28, 2016 at 2 p.m.
The U.S. Department of Labor will award both single and multi-industry contracts to local industry associations, joint labor management organizations, workforce groups, educational institutions, and consortia of organizations and will provide financial and technical assistance to employers pursuing apprenticeship training.
The single-industry contracts will support the growth of apprenticeship programs in the healthcare, construction, transportation and logistics, energy, manufacturing, and information and communications technology sectors. The department will also award up to four multi-industry contracts to organizations to help employers from different sectors grow their apprenticeship programs and work together to create a pipeline of skilled workers.
“Northern Ohio’s apprentice programs are nationally-recognized and should compete for these available funds,” said Kaptur. “Our apprenticeship programs excel at skills training, which when combined with education are the surest pathways to a lifetime of good-paying jobs and a growing, stable local economy. By expanding the ApprenticeshipUSA program, the momentum is building among employers, labor and colleges because the earn-while-you-learn model helps both workers looking to move into the middle-class and for employers looking to grow.”
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 91% of apprentice graduates remain employed after completing their programs, with average annual starting wages above $50,000. The return on investment for employers is substantial, as study data indicates that for every dollar spent on apprenticeship training, employers receive average of $1.47 return in increased productivity, reduced waste and greater front-line innovation.
According to the Department of Labor’s announcement, the ApprenticeshipUSA Industry Intermediary Contracts are the third installment of a $90 million funding strategy to grow and diversify apprenticeship announced in April 2016. These investments build on historic, bipartisan congressional support and follow an unprecedented $175 million investment in apprenticeship announced by the Obama administration in September 2015.
Instructions and the requirements on how to submit the required Requests for Proposals are available at www.fbo.gov.
Applications must be received by 2 p.m. EDT, July 28, 2016.