Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed over $16 million from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for Colorado organizations working to train skilled workers and close critical workforce gaps.
“I hear all the time from veterans and single parents in Colorado who want to provide for themselves and their families, but who haven’t been given the tools to earn a living wage. Thankfully, Colorado has companies that want to hire them and excellent programs like these to train them,” said Bennet. “I’m grateful for these investments which will help connect Coloradans with sustainable careers and create economic mobility for workers of every background.”
“Our outdated education model leaves talented students in the lurch while critical industries struggle to hire enough skilled workers,” said Hickenlooper. “In Colorado, we know apprenticeships are the onramp students desperately need; now the rest of the country can follow our lead.”
This funding was announced as part of over $244 million in federal grants for apprenticeship programs across the country – the largest combined federal investment in apprenticeships in U.S. history. The funding will be allocated through two federal grant programs – the Apprenticeship Building America initiative and the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula.
This funding includes:
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$6,000,000 for the Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Development Board in Centennial;
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$4,000,000 for Careerwise Colorado in Denver;
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$3,843,966 for Activate Work Inc. in Denver;
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$1,662,779 for Vail Valley Works Inc. in Edwards; and
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$839,094 for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
“The Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Development Board and Arapahoe/Douglas Works! are honored to receive this grant, which enables the Colorado Apprenticeship HUB to expand its work of bringing high-quality registered apprenticeship opportunities to more residents across the state. This funding allows us to develop innovative opportunities responsive to industry needs and supportive of economic growth,” said Peter Hancock, Chair, Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Development Board.
“We are delighted and honored to be a recipient of the Apprenticeship Building America grant. A leader in building IT apprenticeships for Colorado tech employers, ActivateWork catalyzes prosperity for Coloradans while helping fill critical talent shortages. We believe there is no surer or shorter pathway to economic mobility than apprenticeship,” said Helen Hayes, Founder and CEO, ActivateWork.
“We are deeply honored and excited to receive this substantial support from the Biden-Harris administration. This investment will significantly advance our mission to create more robust and accessible apprenticeship pathways, providing young people with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in the workforce and pursue their American dream,” said Noel Ginsburg, CEO and founder, CareerWise.
“The Apprenticeship Building America grant will help strengthen our youth apprenticeship program in Eagle County. This vital talent pipeline development program in our rural resort region will strengthen the workforce by offering hands-on experience, fostering local talent, and ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled professionals ready to support and grow the local economy. It will further expand the collaboration between the school district and local industry partners, increasing opportunities for both our students and our business community,” said Chris Romer, President and CEO, Vail Valley Partnership.
“We are very excited to see continued investment from USDOL in Colorado’s talent development ecosystem. Apprenticeships play a critical role in connecting Coloradans of all ages with in-demand career paths, and the Colorado Workforce Development Council is excited to partner with Apprenticeship Colorado in the execution of this grant award,” said Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director, Colorado Workforce Development Council.
Earlier this year, Bennet introduced the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act to expand funding for time-tested workforce development programs and give workers a wider range of high-paying career opportunities. The funding targets organizations that are already training and up-skilling workers in fields that are critical to the country’s economy and national security including education, clean energy, cybersecurity, and manufacturing.