Concord, N.H. (July 25, 2024) – The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) has been awarded $474,623 from the U.S. Department of Labor through the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) base formula funding grants to further enhance the reach of its Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP). This is the second grant that CCSNH has received through the SAEF grants, which provides a series of grants over five years in formula funding awarded annually to increase their ability to serve, improve and expand these critical workforce programs in New Hampshire.
RAPs combine on-the-job training and classroom education to increase an apprentice’s skills and meet employer needs. They have proven to be an effective way for businesses to attract and retain employees and provide an opportunity for job seekers to earn immediate employment with steadily increasing wages as they develop new skills in high-demand fields.
ApprenticeshipNH, a highly successful workforce program of CCSNH created in 2016 to promote high-quality registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs throughout the Granite State, will use the base formula funding to increase financial support and coaching to apprentices who may have difficulty completing an apprenticeship otherwise.
“Apprenticeships are a proven way to create pathways to new careers through high-quality skills training and education. We will be investing the latest round of SAEF funding to support apprentices facing challenges or barriers as they move along their pathway while ensuring the programs being developed are equitable and accessible to everyone,” said Anne Banks, Apprenticeship Programs Manager at CCSNH.
The size of the SAEF base formula funding grants is determined by the number of apprentices served within the state. According to statistics gathered by the Federal Office of Apprenticeship, which oversees the National Registered Apprenticeship System, New Hampshire currently has 3,096 active apprentices in RAPs, a 100% increase in 10 years.
The U.S. Department of Labor created SAEF grants to support states as they engage industry partners, create career pathways, and develop the talent pipeline needed to meet the skill needs of their local labor markets. In New Hampshire, the skill needs vary significantly by region. ApprenticeshipNH has established four regional hubs to tailor programs to meet the community and industry needs in each area. These hubs are located near the state’s community colleges and operate as collaborative efforts across industry, community organizations, education and state agencies. Each hub is staffed with experts who provide technical support for program development and assist employers in connecting with potential job seekers.
In cooperation with the Office of Apprenticeship, ApprenticeshipNH supports employers building registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship and high school programs in high-demand sectors including advanced manufacturing, automotive technology, transportation and logistics, information technology, biomedical technology, business and finance, construction and infrastructure, education and childcare, healthcare, and hospitality. ApprenticeshipNH assists companies with recruiting, screening and hiring potential apprentices, as well as accessing resources in the state that help to fund apprentice training and education.
The total funding of the ApprenticeshipNH initiative is $9.57 million with 99% funded through the following US Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration Grants at the dollar amounts indicated: State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) Grants-$3.77 million and Apprenticeship Building America Grant (ABA) – $5.8 million. Visit ApprenticeshipNH.com for more information.
About CCSNH
New Hampshire’s seven community colleges, located across the state to serve every NH community and region, enroll more than 20,000 students annually including 8,000 high school students who take courses for dual high school and college credit at a reduced cost. Thanks to state support, CCSNH is also able to broaden the number of courses that high schoolers can take at no cost, getting a head start on college requirements and saving from the eventual costs of a college degree. CCSNH also offers short-term, customized career training that prepares individuals for in-demand jobs and helps New Hampshire employees meet their hiring needs. CCSNH works to align its programming with the needs of the state, helping thousands of students enter careers or begin their education before transferring to a four-year college or university. CCSNH has long been the largest transfer partner of the state’s university system and has relationships with numerous other transfer destinations for students.
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