(Wethersfield, CT) – Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Interim Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) has awarded a $10M State Apprenticeship Expansion, Equity, and Innovation grant to CTDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship Training, Connecticut’s federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agency. USDOL awarded a total of $130M to 19 states and programs that “demonstrated a commitment to increase their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts”; establish new partnerships; support industries impacted by COVID-19; and coordinate Registered Apprenticeship programs with state education and workforce systems.
Connecticut was one of only five states to receive the full award.
Commissioner Bartolomeo said, “Connecticut’s Registered Apprenticeship program is a high-quality nationally-recognized program that is critical to workforce development—and has been for decades. This grant allows us to invest in the healthcare training initiatives that will change the landscape for the healthcare sector by bringing in 1,250 new workers within the next four years. I want to thank our Congressional delegation and our federal partners at USDOL for their support—these resources will benefit the largest employment sector in Connecticut. Most importantly, it will help expand diversity, inclusion, and meaningful career opportunities. This is great news for CTDOL, the healthcare industry, and Connecticut’s economy.”
U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said, “Today’s announcement reflects the Department of Labor’s renewed commitment to expanding Registered Apprenticeship to train U.S. workers and ensure that diversity and inclusion are core elements of our nation’s post-pandemic economic recovery. Using Registered Apprenticeships to expand career opportunities for all workers, especially those in under-represented populations, is a priority for the department and a critical component of the Biden-Harris administration’s American Jobs Plan.”
Governor Ned Lamont said, “Thank you to our partners at the U.S. Department of Labor. As we head toward full recovery in Connecticut following the impact of the pandemic, this grant is particularly timely and will help us build momentum for years to come. Healthcare is among Connecticut’s largest employment sectors. Having strong workforce development options for employers positions Connecticut to continue to grow our economy at the same time that we offer the highest-quality healthcare to our residents.”
Connecticut’s Congressional delegation said, “Investing in workforce development is one of the best ways we can get our economy back on track as we recover from the pandemic, and this grant will go a long way in making sure workers have the necessary skills for jobs in our state’s growing healthcare sector. Connecticut’s Registered Apprenticeship program has played a crucial role in the state’s workforce pipeline; we’re proud to see their work being recognized and supported by USDOL and will continue pushing for funding that supports Connecticut workers.”
The CTDOL Office of Apprenticeship administers the state’s only Registered Apprenticeship program. A nationally recognized program, it combines classroom learning with on-the-job training and produces talented workers who have both theoretical knowledge as well as experience in their field. Currently, there are more than 6,700 apprentices registered with nearly 1,700 companies across 50 occupations. The CTDOL healthcare apprenticeship program has nearly 1,000 Registered Apprentices in registered nursing and surgical technology fields working with Yale New Haven, Lawrence and Memorial, Milford, Bridgeport, and Greenwich Hospitals. The federal grant will allow the program to enroll an additional 1,250 healthcare apprentices who will train as emergency department technicians, clinical technicians, and patient care associates.
CTDOL Apprenticeship Director Todd Berch said, “As demand for highly-skilled workers increases, Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship strategies have proven highly successful to meet both employer and industry needs in training, acquiring, and retaining employees. In Connecticut, the healthcare sector has the most job postings and the greatest need for workers. I’m grateful to USDOL for this grant, it will help us bolster recruitment, develop talent, and help meet the healthcare industry's need for a skilled workforce.”
Over the past five years, the Registered Apprenticeship program has trained nearly 15,000 apprentices across 50 employment sectors.
For information on the Registered Apprenticeship program, visit CTApprenticeship.com.