(DENVER) – Apprenticeship Colorado at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s (CDLE) Office of the Future of Work (OFW) is seeking applications from Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in the Building and Construction Trades interested in increasing access for target populations by providing training at no cost to apprentices.
Awards range up to $150,000 and prioritize projects that provide training to apprentices at no cost throughout the entirety of their apprenticeship, remove barriers to accessing training to target populations, and embed diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility into their RAP. Funds for the awards originate from HB23-1246 Support In-Demand Career Workforce which was signed May 16th, 2023.
“This investment in reducing the costs for apprentices in the Building and Construction Trades is an investment not only in the sector, but in our state infrastructure,” said Denise Miller, Director of Apprenticeship Colorado. “By increasing access to good jobs for those that are traditionally underrepresented in this sector, we hope to benefit both employers and individuals to economically prosper.”
As of now, Colorado boasts 181 registered apprenticeship programs across 59 diverse occupations within the Building and Construction Trades industry. The BuildUp Grant Program aims to boost awareness, establish effective referral systems, and ultimately recruit new apprentices into these promising careers. Applicants that demonstrate a commitment and plan to embed diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility into the design of the apprenticeship program will be more competitive.
Apprenticeships also benefit workers, who are able to earn while they learn. Given that many people cannot afford to quit working in order to pursue training or education, apprenticeships can also help address inequities in the labor market.
Entities that are eligible to apply for the BuildUp Grant include single or group of organizations with a documented association (Sponsor, Employer, Related Instruction Provider) with an existing Registered Apprenticeship Program in the Building and Construction Trades.
Please visit CDLE's Bidnet site containing all grant RFA details to apply. Registration with Bidnet is required.
For more information, there will be a webinar to answer questions. This voluntary information session will be held on January 18, 2024 from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. MDT via Zoom to allow prospective applicants the opportunity to ask questions to clarify requirements for this grant. Questions may be asked (and are encouraged) during this conference, however, to have them formally considered, questions must be submitted in writing and only responses in writing shall be considered an official response. All applicants are encouraged to submit all of their questions in writing after this webinar. All questions submitted in writing will be published on Colorado VSS (see Section III Timeline above). Attendance is optional.
Register for the information session here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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