Thursday, July 25, 2024 / Categories: Department News NMDWS receives nearly $6 million to expand apprenticeships for clean energy and infrastructure development in New Mexico The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) received $5.95 million in a competitive State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula, Round 2 (SAEF2) competitive grant from U.S. Department of Labor to establish the Energizing, Building and Connecting Through Apprenticeship Program. The program will expand and modernize Registered Apprenticeships across New Mexico while creating and strengthening career pathways to skilled jobs with competitive wages in areas that will support clean energy and infrastructure development."Investing in clean energy apprenticeships ensures a sustainable future, providing well-paying jobs and supporting our local green energy economy and infrastructure," said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.The grant will be used to develop and enhance apprenticeship programs in the clean energy and infrastructure sectors. The expanded apprenticeship programs will assist and ensure businesses have access to a skilled and ready workforce.The Energizing, Building and Connecting Through Apprenticeship Program will have four components:Recruiting pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship applicants to both the program and directly into registered apprenticeship programs.Enrolling and supporting pre-apprentices in pre-apprenticeship programs in the target industries and facilitating their progression to a registered apprenticeship program.Identifying partners to create new or expanded pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs in clean energy and infrastructure development.Working with employers to encourage hiring pre-apprenticeship program completers as registered apprentices. Through key partnerships with businesses, labor unions, workforce and economic development organizations, workers’ rights organizations, and peer state agencies, the program will promote diversity in these fields and provide opportunities for underrepresented groups and underserved communities across the state.“Our state plan identifies infrastructure development and energy transition as priority sectors, and this grant will enable the department to use the proven effective strategies of pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship to meet the needs in these areas,” said NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair. “This funding will allow the department to build stronger partnerships with employers and training providers, ensuring that the good jobs in these industries are available in all parts of the state and to all New Mexicans.”“Apprenticeship and quality pre-apprenticeship are the gold standard for training people in skilled trades professions. Skilled trades are the core jobs needed for green energy careers,” said UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 412 Political Affairs and Outreach Director Joan Baker. “This grant reflects the commitment and partnerships between DWS, the community, employers, workforce development, and Labor Unions, taking a holistic approach to our economic needs through workforce development, uplifting communities through opportunity, and supporting much needed infrastructure.”The objectives of this grant align with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Combined Plan to grow a workforce that supports safe and healthy New Mexican families and communities, grow a workforce to modernize New Mexico’s infrastructure, and anticipate and prepare the workforce for changes in the New Mexico economy.For more information on apprenticeships, visit https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Apprenticeship. Previous Article New Mexico's Unemployment Rate was 3.9% in June 2024 Next Article Human Rights Commission Hearing Notice