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Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Nurturing Talent Through Apprenticeships

by Community Contributor • March 19, 2024 • Comments Off

Good afternoon,

It is hard to overstate the importance of apprenticeship programs in today’s economy, where numerous industries have identified a persistent “skills gap” in the workforce.

The State of Arizona’s Office of Economic Opportunity recently announced it is working to expand registered construction and trade apprenticeship programs with grants from its BuildItAZ initiative, but time is running out to apply for these funds.

The capacity-building grants will be used to support activities such as hiring instructors and purchasing equipment to augment current successful, high-quality apprenticeships to grow the Arizona workforce. The $500,000 in funds for the grant program are through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). All applications are due by 5 pm on Thursday, March 21, and interested companies can apply here.

Other local apprenticeship opportunities include the Skilled Trades program at Coconino Community College as part of its CCC2Work initiative.

Skilled Trades is a pathway for students interested in academic studies paired with hands-on training, including field-study workshops arranged with local contractors. Students can build practical skills in the construction field, sustainable building, automotive, welding, or environmental technologies involving wind and sun energies.

APS is another source of apprenticeships in the energy arena. The utility is currently accepting Electrical & Instrumentation apprentice applicationsfor the Four Corners Power Plant. It is part of APS’s robust apprenticeship program that includes pre-apprentice opportunities for those interested in becoming linemen, electricians, and polyphase meter journeymen.

These programs play a vital role in shaping the future of our workplaces, which is essential as technology constantly reshapes job requirements. They provide employers with tailor-made solutions to skills gap issues, while giving individuals a path for the successful transitioning from education to employment. That’s a big win for our local economy.