Concord, NH – The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) was awarded $3.2 million by U.S. Department of Labor (US DOL) through the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grant. This funding will be used to increase the ability of ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce program of CCSNH, to serve, improve and strategically expand their Registered Apprenticeship programs (RAP) and pre-apprenticeship programs. Of the total grant, $2.9 million was additional competitive funding awarded to increase sustainability, and to expand and diversify apprenticeship programs in targeted industries including advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, infrastructure and clean energy, education and healthcare. CCSNH is the only recipient in New Hampshire to receive funding and one of seven states across the country to be granted the additional competitive funding.
The US DOL State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants help states embed job quality, sustainability, diversity, and equity while creating opportunities for innovation, engagement and accessibility in RAP programs.
“Being one of only seven states to receive this additional funding from the U.S. Department of Labor is a testament to the success that we have had throughout the state in creating and expanding Registered Apprenticeship programs,” said Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH chancellor. “Our apprenticeship programs are proven to be very successful for recruitment and retention and have helped Granite State employers in a variety of industries fill hundreds of critical positions all while creating a pipeline for advancement through skills enhancement.”
Through the ApprenticeshipNH program, employers within key sectors of the state’s economy can implement workforce development programs to create a pipeline of skilled workers using the “Earn While You Learn” model that combines on-the-job training and classroom education to increase an apprentice’s skills. RAPs are a proven solution for businesses looking to hire and retain workers and serve as an opportunity for jobseekers to earn immediate employment with steadily increasing wages as they develop new skills in high-demand fields.
“Being awarded the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants will help CCSNH further build sustainable partnerships with our industry partners across the state while also providing new opportunities for innovation, engagement, and ease of access for apprentices,” said Beth Doiron, CCSNH Director of College Access and NHED Programs and Initiatives. “These grants will focus on embedding diversity and equity into the development of career pathways for individuals seeking career growth opportunities, and it recognizes the importance of building New Hampshire’s labor force across every sector of our state’s population.”
ApprenticeshipNH has a history of assisting New Hampshire employers with RAPs, pre-apprenticeships and programs with high school students as proven recruitment and retention strategies. Over the past six years that CCSNH has helped employers build apprenticeships, participating businesses have experienced increased productivity, boosted employee retention, improved company culture and an ensured knowledge transfer when filling retiring positions with qualified, skilled workers.
“Through our collaborative effort with ApprenticeshipNH and CCSNH, we have been successfully able to fill vital healthcare roles throughout our organization,” said Becky Marden, director of workforce development & experience at The Elliot. “Building quality pathways to healthcare careers where individuals can gain skills and qualifications for employment while still earning a wage has been an integral component of the program. Our Registered Apprenticeship programs do not just get people in-the-doors, but through the hands-on learning approach and wrap around support from across our partnerships, we are seeing high retention rates in our cohorts. This partnership has allowed us to create flexible and industry-driven training solutions that assist us in caring for the health and wellbeing of those in our community.”
Through the support of other US DOL grants and the Office of Apprenticeship, ApprenticeshipNH is enhancing statewide apprenticeship resources and networks by establishing four Regional Apprenticeship Hubs that align with the geographic locations of New Hampshire’s community colleges. The Regional Hub model supports a coordinated, national investment strategy that aims to strengthen and modernize the US DOL’s Registered Apprenticeship system and promotes RAPs as a workforce solution. As an intermediary, ApprenticeshipNH will support each hub to provide technical assistance and financial support for the development of apprenticeship programs across a spectrum of sectors and occupations. This includes New Hampshire’s in-demand industries of construction, education/childcare, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, technology and transportation/logistics.
ApprenticeshipNH was established in 2017 and is funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor. In cooperation with the Office of Apprentice, ApprenticeshipNH assists employers building registered apprenticeships, pre-apprentice and high school programs in high-demand sectors including advanced manufacturing, automotive technology, biomedical technology, business and finance, construction and infrastructure, education and childcare, healthcare, hospitality, information technology and transportation and logistics. 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. 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. Visit CCSNH.edu for more information.
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Photo caption: Perry Spearman is among the 50 apprentices who have used ApprenticeshipNH’s “Earn While You Learn” model to start a healthcare career at The Elliot. (Photo courtesy of The Elliot)
