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TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that $500,000 has been awarded to eight entities across Kansas for projects that will attract and retain employees and build the state workforce through registered apprenticeships.
“Since becoming governor, Kansas has racked up award after award for being a national leader in creating jobs and attracting business investment,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This has created a demand for skilled workers for the jobs we are creating. Providing organizations with funding for apprenticeship programs strengthens the success we’ve experienced.”
The grants, administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, assist existing registered apprenticeship programs with technical instruction, on-the-job training, and staffing to implement and manage programs, marketing and outreach, and other activities.
“Since the beginning of the Kelly-Toland administration, we’ve been persistent in growing our state’s economy through more business recruitment and expansion of existing Kansas businesses,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “We are experiencing an increase in high-demand job opportunities, and these grants will provide businesses with more tools to develop and maintain a highly skilled and valuable workforce.”
The statewide grant awardees include:
- Independent Electrical Contractors Association of Kansas, Sedgwick County: $70,886
- Kansas Farm Bureau, Riley County: $70,886
- Kansas Rural Water Association, Nemaha County: $54,170
- Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 441, Sedgwick County: $70,886
The regional grant awardees include:
- Northeast - Full Service Chimney, Johnson County: $70,886
- South Central - Textron Aviation, Sedgwick County: $59,400
- South Central - Sheet Metal Workers JATC, Local #29, Sedgwick County: $52,000
- Southeast - Crossland Construction, Cherokee County: $70,886
“This is the second year that our office has the ability to award funding strictly for investing in the apprenticeship programs throughout Kansas,” said Shonda Anderson, director of the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship. “These grants provide the funds to assist organizations with hiring more instructors, providing essential training and safety equipment and other educational tools. These investments are critical to ensuring we can retain our workforce and sustain our economic growth.”
“The building and construction trades are experiencing unprecedented growth right now,” said Brian Burnett, business manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 441 and president of Kansas State Building and Construction Trades. “These grants help to develop, prepare, and train the next generation of skilled craft workers not only within our program through the Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship but also through many other programs across the state.”
The Office of Registered Apprenticeship will present the third annual KANSASWORKS National Apprenticeship Week Summit on Nov. 21 at the Salina Area Airport. To register, click here.
To learn more about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, visit here.