Create a multi-network partner registered apprenticeship hub of three partner community colleges and other support partners to serve 59 counties (50% of the state population) to expand the utilization…

Central Community College was awarded an $11,886,972 project grant from the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration under the Registered Apprenticeship program (CFDA 17.285) to create a multi-network registered apprenticeship hub serving rural Nebraska. Central Community College will partner with Northeast Community College and Southeast Community College to expand utilization of registered apprenticeships through promotion, education, and employer supports across 59 counties. As group sponsors, the colleges will develop new apprenticeship occupations using existing educational programs and courses as related training instruction. They will conduct outreach, education and technical assistance to help employers understand and implement registered apprenticeships by partnering with the hub. Over the four year period, the colleges anticipate enrolling at least 120 new apprentices in registered apprenticeship programs and increasing active programs in Nebraska by 27% above 2020 levels. Northeast Community College and Southeast Community College will mirror Central Community College's activities as subrecipients to build the regional registered apprenticeship hub.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to create a multi-network partner registered apprenticeship hub of three partner community colleges and other support partners to serve 59 counties (50% of the state population) to expand the utilization of registered apprenticeships in rural nebraska and support participating employers in their adoption of the registered apprenticeship model. Activities performed project elevate will expand the utilization of registered apprenticeships in rural central and eastern nebraska through activities centered on promotion/outreach, education, and employer supports. By acting as group/intermediary RAP sponsors, elevate colleges will reduce the burden on employers in developing and sponsoring apprenticeships. The colleges will develop apprenticeship occupations, utilizing their educational programs and courses as the required related training, in collaboration with industry advisors. Hub will conduct outreach and education to help employers better understand what registered apprenticeships are and how they can be implemented in their businesses by partnering with elevate. Elevate will create a variety of technical assistance resources in multiple languages to be used for marketing, promotion, education, and training purposes, included a flagship apprentice mentor training program. The program staff will leverage their multi-network partnerships to expand the reach of their marketing efforts and work to establish new relationships with organizations that serve minority populations throughout the region. Deliverables would increase the number of active registered apprentice occupation in the state of nebraska by 27%, over 2020 figures (US DOL, 2022). Each partner college is or will be a group/intermediary RAP, registering the apprenticeships under their program and then bringing employers alongside to participate in the RAP. Collectively, elevate will create 80 technical assistance resources, sharing these resources among the colleges to ensure consistency in promoting the RA hub. There will be one new sponsor created under this proposal, which will be SCC. CCC and necc are already registered sponsors. Furthermore, IT is anticipated that over the performance period, elevate will enroll at least 120 apprentices in raps developed with ABA grant funds. Intended beneficiary underserved rural areas and underserved minority populations. Subrecipient activities subrecipients (northeast community college and southeast community college) activities will mirror those of the lead applicant, working collaboratively to build a regional RAP hub, conducting promotion and outreach, serving as a resource to participating employers and serving as a group/intermediary RAP sponsor.