Press Release: Federal Funds to Scale Apprenticeships

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:

Tori McRoberts Hoffpauir

‪Email: tori@youthforcenola.org

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AWARDS $4 MILLION TO CREATE NEARLY 500 APPRENTICESHIPS IN NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans (August 1, 2024) — NOLA LEADS (New Orleans Leading in Education in Apprenticeship Development and Skills), a career-connected learning collaborative powered by YouthForce NOLA, has been awarded $4 million from the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America initiative. This funding is the result of the largest federal investment in Registered Apprenticeships, totaling more than $244 million, aiming to modernize, diversify and expand the Registered Apprenticeship system in growing U.S. industries. Locally, these industries include clean energy, IT and cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, hospitality, and health care. 

The funding will rapidly grow the pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship opportunities in New Orleans, reaching a total of nearly 1,700 participants. By providing a robustly supported pathway into apprenticeships, NOLA LEADS will help lift hundreds of New Orleanians each year into high-wage career paths. At the same time, the program will meet local employers’ talent needs with a highly skilled workforce trained right here in New Orleans. This community-driven collaboration will create easily accessible career training for open enrollment New Orleans Public High School students, and any workers seeking to upskill, which will lead to a significant shift in New Orleans’ economic equity. 

“Expanding options, opportunity, and prosperity for young New Orleanians takes all of us, working together. It’s been a goal of our coordinated network of education, business, and community partners to establish and scale high-quality apprenticeships in New Orleans for several years,” shared Cate Swinburn, President and CEO of YouthForce NOLA. “This grant is a win for everyone in the YouthForce NOLA collaborative, especially the young people who will be on a path to good-paying jobs and the regional businesses that will have ready talent for their essential workforce needs. With this significant infusion of federal funding, New Orleans Career Center, Operation Spark, Next Level NOLA, and NOVAC are ready to immediately create hundreds of apprenticeship opportunities.”

The grant also allocates funding to incentivize local businesses to participate and provide funds to cover training costs, such as supplies and apprentice wages, to ensure apprentices’ work experiences are high-quality and businesses can readily sign on to support the new capacity for apprenticeships.

Claire Jecklin, Chief Executive Officer & Founder of the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) shared, “Being part of the NOLA LEADS collaboration will enable us to expand our pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathways. This means we can connect more trainees to more paid Registered Apprenticeships in high-demand careers such as Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC, Welding, Pharmacy Technician, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Line Cook, and support their ongoing success. It will also enable us to strengthen our employer partnerships and grow the number of New Orleanians who make up a highly trained, mid-skill local workforce.”

Collaborators and supporters of NOLA LEADS include: Allocation for Media Arts & Culture, Boh Bros, the City of New Orleans Office of Workforce Development, Delgado Community College, Entergy, Gallo, GNO, Inc., Greater New Orleans Foundation, Gusto Moving Pictures, Koniag Government Services, LCMC Health, the Louisiana Restaurant Association, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, New Orleans Career Center, New Orleans Public Schools, the New Orleans Workforce Development Board, Next Level NOLA, NOVAC, Ochsner Health, Operation Spark, RNGD, Southeast LA Construction Building Trades & Council, and YouthForce NOLA. 

About YouthForce NOLA 

YouthForce NOLA serves as the engine for career-connected learning, expanding options and opportunity so every New Orleans public school student is ready for the future they choose. We fuel a coordinated network of education, business, and community partners who, together, equip our public school students with the skills and know-how they need to confidently pursue a wide range of opportunities after high school. To date, 1,200+ young people have completed a YouthForce NOLA Internship with one of our 250+ local employer partners, and 99% got a job or enrolled in college upon graduation. As a result of our collective efforts, our youth will thrive in meaningful, well-paying careers, including right here in New Orleans. Learn more at www.youthforcenola.org.