Equus Awards Incentive Funding to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs

Equus Workforce Solutions (Equus) announces awards of nearly $400,000 in incentive funding to expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs as part of their Intermediary for Registered Apprenticeships contract with the U.S. Department of Labor. A Registered Apprenticeship Program is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential.

“I think when starting new programs it can be overwhelming thinking about all the things you have to do.  The paperwork, the applications… Once we partnered with you, you made it easy”, said Mary Hegerman, HR Business Partner for Mortenson Dental Group.

Equus announces the incentive awards for development or expansion activities to the following organizations:

• Automotive Apprenticeship Group (Kentucky):  The Automotive Apprenticeship Group Kentucky, LLC (AAG) is a rapidly expanding Registered Apprenticeship provider centered on Automotive Technician apprenticeships in partnership with automobile dealerships around the country. Under this award, AAG seeks to expand their program to non-traditional and minority apprenticeship candidates.
• Be Prepared America (North Carolina): Under this award, Be Prepared America seeks to expand their Health Information Technology Specialist Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
• Center of Workforce Innovations (Indiana):  The Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI) supports healthcare employers in the development and implementation of RAPs as a workforce solution in the Healthcare industry. Under this award, CWI will continue its work in developing the Northwest Indiana Healthcare Consortium and develop and launch a Medical Assistant RAP.
• CivilianCyber (Virginia): CivilianCyber will use this award to establish a competency-based Peer Recovery Specialist RAP. Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS), also called Peer Support Specialists and Peer Specialists, are mental health workers with “lived experience” that have been trained to counsel or assist persons during their recovery journey.
• Gaston College (North Carolina): Under this award, Gaston College will deploy funds for tuition, fees, books and supplies for Apprentices and Youth Apprentices; to incentivize employer participation and for the development of new pathways. Pathways will include Accounting, Welding, Quality Control Tech and Practical Nurse (PN). Gaston will add 3 new employers to the fold for on-the-job learning.
• Kindred Rehab Services (National): Kindred Healthcare seeks to utilize this award to enroll new and incumbent workers into their recently approved Environmental Technician RAP. The award will also provide the opportunity for an enhanced mentoring and coaching component.
• Mortenson Dental Health (Kentucky):  Mortenson Dental Health’s Summit Dental Health region plans to build a training center that will be used for hands-on instruction and more detailed classroom-based learning. Utilizing this award will allow Mortenson Dental Health to develop a classroom with a basic setup of an operatory that allows for the basics of Dental Assisting to be taught, and not disrupt the patient experience.
• Rooftop Chimney Sweeps (Virginia):  Under this award, Rooftop Chimney Sweeps will expand their Rooftop Chimney Sweep RAP to new and incumbent workers placing emphasis on providing opportunities to Limited English Proficient individuals.
• Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/Building Industry Group Skilled Trades Employment Program (WRTP/Big Step): Under this award, WRTP will expand their Industrial Manufacturing Technician program to additional employers in the region.

Click here to request more information about opportunities to partner with Equus to develop or expand your Registered Apprenticeship Program.

This project has been funded, either wholly or in part, with Federal funds from the Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration under Contract number, 1605C2-20-C-0016, the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement of same by the U.S. Government.