Lead applicant organizations name: junior achievement usalead applicant entity type: national OST organizationlead applicant city state: colorado springs, CO (HQ)required partners:niagara county…

Lead applicant organizations name: junior achievement usalead applicant entity type: national OST organizationlead applicant city state: colorado springs, CO (HQ)required partners:niagara county workforce development board (NY) – workforce investment boardniagara frontier industry education council (NY) – workforce investment boardnew york state department of labor (NY) – workforce investment boardmontgomery county workforce development board (PA) – workforce investment boardbotetourt chamber of commerce (VA) – workforce investment boardsouthwest indiana workforce board siwb (in) – workforce investment boardequus workforce solutions (CA) – workforce investment boardgeneral motors (NY) – employer trade laborreid petroleum (NY) – employer trade laborm t bank (PA) – employer trade laborlincoln investment (PA) – employer trade labormember one federal credit union (VA) – employer trade labormillennium steel, (in) – employer trade laborberry global group, INC. (in) – employer trade laborcentral valley community bank (CA) – employer trade laborcontra costa district attorney (CA) – employer trade laborniagara falls city school district (NY) – education partnernorristown area school district (PA) – education partnerbotetourt county public schools (VA) – education partnerareas to be served: new york, pennsylvania, virginia, indiana, californiatotal participants to be served: 2,250PROJECT title name: JA workforce pathways programtargeted population(s) to be served: rural youth aged 16-21, especially opportunity youth, low-income youth, youth of color, lgbtq youth, and under-employed youthpublic contact information: brief summary of the project: junior achievement USA proposes to pilot the workforce pathways pilot program in 5 established JA areas (affiliates) in 5 states encompassing more than 16 counties with large populations of rural youth. The project will target rural youth aged 16-21, with an emphasis on opportunity youth. JA estimates IT will serve 450 youth in each of five established JA areas, for a total of 2,250 youth served by project end. The youth in these areas represent a diverse range of demographics and skill levels based on the region. A majority are low-income and live in areas with high unemployment, and many are english language learners. High schools in these areas tend to be lower performing than national averages in terms of graduation rates andlearning opportunities. For this pilot, JA has established more than 30 formal partnerships with workforce investment boards, schools, and employer labor trade organizations. The project will include basic job readiness skills, and education options including traditional high school, GED, vocational technical education, and post-secondary education, along with workforce development activities such as job shadows, internships, apprenticeships, credentialing and certification programs, and employment opportunities. The project will increase access to workforce preparation-focused OST programming through a collaborative, concerted recruitment approach that will leverage schools, osts, community and youth centers, employers, andthe social networks of youth themselves to especially target rural youth. JA areas and partners will generate interest in the project by: (1) addressing barriers to participation (2) connecting youth to a mentor (3) offering an assessment that helps students clarify interests, aptitudes and next steps (4) providing engaging curriculum (5) offering a variety of education and career options and (6) ensuring that the program delivers tangible results including internships, apprenticeships, jobs, and or enrollment in training education schools or programs. A collaborative recruitment strategy, strong mentoring, and a youth skills and interest inventory that aligns with employer opportunities all will ensure that the project increases access to workforce based OST programming for rural youth in the pilot JA areas.