Grant From The State Awarded
Some GREAT news – we learned a couple of weeks ago that we were awarded a PLANNING GRANT from the state of PA!! This grant will go a long way to getting the systems in place to administratively plan the pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. This money will get us well on our way to getting our programs off the ground.
- Given the funding mentioned above, we are still looking to get pilot programs off the ground in Fall of 2016
- The Standards of Apprenticeship (application for the registered apprenticeship program) is being developed and will be shared with the Apprenticeship Committee made up of manufacturers, training providers and additional partners. This committee will be fully assembled in the coming weeks/months – and we will be looking for some of your participation in this!
- Ideas about a curriculum are being fleshed out by some of the folks involved in our local college consortium. We will ask for participation for board of manufacturers – of YOU – once things begin to take a little better shape
Hiring Our Heroes Program Feeds The Funnel
- Very interesting – We have been in discussions with the Department of Defense (DOD), and it looks like our program will become one of the pathways for retiring military veterans to transition to civilian life, and find a new career. This is the Hiring Our Heroes program. In a conversation that I just had with the coordinator of the Hiring Our Heroes events this past Thursday evening, we were asked to present to approximately 150 vets, information about our program and our industry in general on April 7th at McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst AFB in NJ. We are very excited to take this to the next level of talks with them.
- We are attempting to standardize the pre-apprenticeship portion of the program across the region, so we can get that up and running all across our region. This program would be a great start to developing the base of workers that the industry desperately needs and would serve as the springboard for the full apprenticeship piece
- Additionally, we are in talks with, and submitting proposals to, private foundations that could provide significant funding to support this program. I sincerely believe that we will get some funding from one, or more, of these sources. However – these wheel turn slowly.
Moving this program forward from here will require participation from you! Clara Console (Choice Careers), or I will continue to be in touch to update, and present the opportunities for participation as they arise. This is an exciting time for our region and our industry! And, WE – as manufacturers – are in the drivers seat. Good stuff.
Thanks for your continued interest in, and support for, the NTAP!! We look forward to presenting more great news in the coming weeks.
I will keep you aprised as we progress. Thank you for your continues interest.
John Shegda – President, NTMA – Delaware Valley Chapter