Labor & Industry Announces Availability of $2.75 Million to Build, Modernize Pennsylvania’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs

​Harrisburg, PA - Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier today announced availability of $2.75 million in grant funding to build and modernize Pennsylvania's growing network of registered apprenticeship programs. L&I is one of 30 recipients nationwide awarded grant fundingOpens In A New Window through the U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Building America initiative and plans to support 15 local workforce development boards (LWDBs) in their respective efforts to expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities among underrepresented populations in their respective regions.

"The economy is ever-changing, requiring more and more specialized skills among workers," Berrier said. "As leaders in the field of workforce development, the Wolf Administration is constantly innovating how we create access to this training and remains committed to ensuring all Pennsylvanians - especially those in historically marginalized communities -- have equitable access to opportunities that advance their skillset and offer family-sustaining career pathways."

In July, the Wolf Administration secured a $3.9 million federal grant to be distributed through L&I's Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO)Opens In A New Window. With the grant funding, the ATO is looking to expand diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to apprenticeship programs among underrepresented communities, embed a focus on apprenticeship within the commonwealth's workforce system, and enhance apprenticeship-related expertise among local workforce development board and PA CareerLink®Opens In A New Window staff.

To assist local workforce areas across the commonwealth, the ATO is helping create strategic plans to expand registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs and offering training webinars that highlight how job seekers can connect to the model and how LWDBs can leverage Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds to support apprentices.

"LWDBs not only support apprentices, but also provide the leadership necessary to bring key regional partners together to support Pennsylvania's registered apprenticeship model," said Tara Loew, director of the ATO. "Their sustained commitment to promoting apprenticeship as a service to both employers and job seekers will help accelerate the growth of local apprenticeship ecosystems that are supported by the ATO."

Applications must be complete and submitted by Friday, November 4, 2022. The Apprenticeship Building America and Pennsylvania NGA and related materials are available on L&I's grants website: www.dli.pa.gov/GrantsOpens In A New Window.

APPRENTICESHIP UNDER THE WOLF ADMINISTRATION
Established in 2016, the ATO within the PA Department of Labor & Industry is responsible for guiding and promoting the expansion and compliance of all registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across the commonwealth. The ATO oversees the development and approval of all registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship-related programs and ensures compliance with all regulations and standards. As of August 2022, the ATO supports 883 unduplicated program sponsors and 1,596 occupation-specific registered apprenticeship programs across the commonwealth, with 16,576 registered apprentices currently active.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that, on average, apprentices earn a starting wage of $70,000 per year after graduation and are on track to earn $300,000 more over their careers compared to workers who do not graduate from an apprenticeship program. For every dollar spent on apprenticeships, employers get an average of $1.47 back in increased productivity.

MEDIA CONTACT: Trevor Monk, [email protected]

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