NORFOLK, Va. — The Hampton Roads Workforce Council celebrated National Apprenticeship Week by kicking off its 10th annual Regional Apprenticeship Summit Tuesday morning.
Attendees gathered at Virginia Peninsula Community College to explore opportunities and partnerships, which organizers said will help shape the future workforce. They also got the chance to learn about new services and programs available to employers looking to expand registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.
"The apprenticeship hub is an aligned system of employers, education providers, and community organizations that create a seamless mechanism," said Christina Brooks.
Recently, the Hampton Roads Council apprenticeship hub received a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This grant expands the hub's reach across the region, allowing people to support their families while building careers.
Christina Brooks, the Senior Director of community initiatives with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, says the $6 million grant will support the building of new training facilities and education programs, along with assisting apprentice providers.
"It's so important because we know that the opportunities for apprenticeship are limitless. Every single industry you can think of, from the skill trades, from education to health care," Brooks said.
This initiative is supported by the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Building America Round 2 grant, which helps job seekers register for apprenticeships in the region.
"Registered apprenticeship is both the Department of Labor's ideal pathway," said Molly Bashay with the U.S. Department of Labor. "It ensures individuals are able to access good quality programs and training."
Molly Bashay from the U.S. Department of Labor said the federal agency is investing millions of dollars to strengthen the apprenticeship hub.
"The Department of Labor has put its full support behind, of course, registered apprenticeships and the practitioners at the local level that are doing the good work," expressed Bashay.
"Most recently, earlier this year, we announced $200 million in Apprenticeship Building America grants to elevate opportunities for registered and bring additional communities into that pathway," Bashay said.
Bashay and Brooks said the implementation of the hub is already paying dividends. For that reason, program leaders want to continue their partnerships with employers, education providers, and community organizations to find new ways to expand in the future.
If you’re a business, community partner, or job seeker who is interested in learning more about the apprenticeship system in our region and the apprenticeship hub, reach out to the workforce council or email cbrooks@theworkforcecouncil.org.