The U.S. Dept. of Labor has released a slick new Quick Start Toolkit that provides helpful guidance, steps and resources to start and register an apprenticeship program. The toolkit covers everything from exploring the apprenticeship model as a workforce strategy to launching a new program. Whether you’re a business, labor organization, industry association, community college, or a community-based or service organization, this toolkit will help you:

• Explore apprenticeship as a strategy to meet your needs for skilled workers
• Partner with key players in your region to develop an apprenticeship
• Build the core components of your apprenticeship program
• Register your program to become part of the national Registered Apprenticeship network
• Launch your new Registered Apprenticeship

Check out the toolkit at www.doleta.gov/oa/employers/apprenticeship_toolkit.pdf.

An Oct. 6 article in the Detroit Free Press titled "Experts: Apprenticeship degree can land in-demand job" concludes the following:

• "Middle Skill" jobs have been tough to fill in Michigan and demand for such workers will keep growing
• Many good-paying jobs require training but not a four-year degree
• A Bachelor's degree is no longer viewed as job seeker's holy grail
• Apprentice programs making a comeback

To read the entire article, click here.

December 11, 2014 - Today, the Secretary of Labor announced the long-awaited funding opportunity for the American Apprenticeship grants at a visit to the Urban Technology Projectin Philadelphia. On April 16, 2014, the President and Vice President first announced that new federal investments would be made available to support job-driven training, like apprenticeships, that expand partnerships with industry, businesses, unions, community colleges, and training organizations to train workers in the skills they need. This is the single largest Federal investment in apprenticeship history and will serve as a catalyst to "sale and scale" the apprenticeship model as an innovative workforce strategy that is relevant to a number of different industries.

The Department of Labor is making $100 million in existing H-1B funds available for the American Apprenticeship Grants to help more workers participate in apprenticeships. These grants will support public-private partnerships that promote the expansion of quality and innovative Registered Apprenticeship programs.  They will help start efforts to meet the needs of business and expand career opportunities for workers, women, underrepresented populations and young men and women of color, people with disabilities, and veterans.

Here are links to additional background information on the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and instructions on how to apply for these grant funds:

Links to Additional Information:

•          Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)- Grant Notice - ETA-15-02
•          DOL American Apprenticeship Inititivate Website – http://www.doleta.gov/oa/aag.cfm
•          Whitehouse Fact Sheet Link - whitehouse.gov

Links to New Resources:

•          New Apprenticeship Website – www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/
•          Apprenticeship Quick Start Toolkit – Quick Start Toolkit
•          Federal Funding for Apprenticeship Playbook  - Federal Playbook
•          Employer’s Playbook: Building an Apprenticeship Program – Employer’s Playbook
•          Apprenticeship Staff Contact Map  - www.doleta.gov/oa/contactlist.cfm

Skills Gap Bumps Up Against Vocational Taboo

Federal, State Governments Push Apprentice Programs, but Find Few Domestic Takers
By Sven Böll 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—The Obama administration and governors from Michigan to North Carolina have a solution for some of the U.S. manufacturing sector's woes: German-style apprenticeship programs.

But their success is proving to be unusually one-sided, mostly drawing firms based in Germany and other non-U.S. countries. In North Carolina, "Apprenticeship 2000," a program combining classroom work and on-the-job training, has drawn numerous German companies but so far only two U.S. firms, Ameritech Die & Mold Inc. and Timken Co.

In Michigan, where Republican Gov. Rick Snyder promised last year to "Americanize" the German model in his state, almost three-fourths of the participants are firms based overseas, mostly in Germany.

Read the entire article from The Wall Street Journal.