Nevadaworks Secures $4 Million in Department of Labor Funding to Place Nevadans into Apprenticeships

RENO, Nev. (July 16, 2024) – Nevadaworks, an organization that provides employers in northern Nevada with skilled, productive workers that support the economic needs of the region, will be routing Nevadans into apprenticeships after its application to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Apprenticeship Building America grant was approved. The organization has been awarded $4 million through June of 2028 which will support the Nevada Apprenticeship Initiative (NAI), a project dedicated to enrolling approximately 400 aspiring apprentices from underrepresented populations and underserved communities across Nevadaworks’ 13 county territory, including Tribal communities, through June of 2028.

The NAI project is designed to create equitable registered apprenticeship pathways by expanding pre-apprenticeship programs, collaborating with education and workforce partners, and establishing linkage agreements between programs. In partnership with the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), the project will emphasize designing programs with quality indicators, such as hands-on work experience and access to support services, to ensure successful training completion. Additionally, NAI will leverage training models that meet the diverse needs of young adult candidates in typically underrepresented and underserved communities. Outreach and recruitment efforts will specifically target these populations as NAI seeks to bring more opportunities to residents across the state and increase the number of Nevadans completing pre-apprenticeship programs and Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). Interested individuals will be able to access resources through EmployNV Hubs located across the state. Individuals can find the EmployNV hub closest to them here.

By fostering partnerships and integrating principles of diversity, equity, and evidence-based practices, NAI wants to drive an effective and sustainable initiative. It includes strategic activities for developing comprehensive career pathways aligned with post-secondary credentials and increasing enrollment in RAPs. Through linkage agreements, job seekers will access quality employment opportunities while employers will benefit from a robust, diverse and skilled talent pipeline.

“The Nevada Apprenticeship Initiative represents another step forward in our efforts to bolster workforce skills in order to enhance the quality of life for workers in our state,” said Milton Stewart, CEO of Nevadaworks. “By developing a skilled and diverse workforce, we are not only supporting our local economy but also attracting new businesses to our region. This initiative, in collaboration with our partners, will make Nevada a cutting-edge location for businesses.”

For more information about Nevadaworks and its programs, visit Nevadaworks’ official website.

About Nevadaworks
Nevadaworks is the local workforce development board for Northern Nevada administering federal funds associated with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Nevadaworks supports workforce development in 13 counties (Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine) with an area of more than 70,000 square miles, making it one of the single largest local workforce geographical areas in the country.

Nevadaworks delivers workforce services to these unique areas that over 700,000 people call home. The agency serves the community by assisting job seekers through creating programs that train, educate, and support the workforce to develop key and timely in-demand skills. Nevadaworks assists businesses to secure the talent they need to thrive.