Kentucky

Kentucky used Recovery Act funds to hire a time-limited staff member to research and advise the Kentucky Workforce Board on links with Registered Apprenticeship.

At this time they have been awarded $750,000 of ARRA funds “set aside” for Pre-Apprenticeship.   A Request for Proposals was recently issued to local WIA Boards;

 (10 in Kentucky) asking them to partner with Registered Apprenticeship programs and bring forward innovative ideas on how to expand Pre-Apprenticeship/ Apprenticeship participation. The proposals are due mid December 15, 2009.  These proposals will identify what specific industries and trades will be supported and an estimate of how many individuals that will be assisted and at what cost.

Kentucky’s plan is to use Pre-Apprenticeship as a first step in acquiring skills by preparing workers to provide basic skills needed for Registered Apprenticeships and moving unemployed adults into stable employment. The Pre-Apprenticeship programs identified in response to this initiative will help trainees attain successful careers in construction occupations by preparing them for full Registered Apprenticeship programs in those occupations; and must demonstrate knowledge of Pre-Apprenticeship training and contribute to the further development of Pre-Apprenticeship models. This project will utilize the $750,000 stimulus funds under ARRA, allotted through a Workforce Investment Act (WIA) state discretionary grant.

Over $15 million of ARRA funds were distributed to the Commonwealth’s 10 local workforce investment boards to provide workforce and training services to the youth identified as most in need of assistance.  Approximately 85 percent of these funds were to be used to conduct the Kentucky Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) providing training opportunities to approximately 6,000 at-risk youth and young adults across the state. 

How are ARRA funds being leveraged in your state to advance Registered Apprenticeship?