Governor Laura Kelly has announced more than a half-million dollars has been awarded by the Kansas Department of Commerce to eight entities across the state for projects to attract and retain employees and build the state workforce through registered apprenticeships.
The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship received total funding requests of $3.3 million from 16 applicants who identified a variety of project needs related to registered apprenticeships, such as technical instruction, outreach, staffing, partnerships, and administrative costs. Awardees are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar match, and projects must be completed by September 30, 2024.
Grant awardees include:
*Plumbers and Pipefitters Training of Kansas, United Association 441 (UA441) in Wichita received $100,000 for HVAC training equipment, capacity building, and direct business outreach
*Wichita Electrical Industry Training Fund, IBEW 271 received $98,476 for capacity building and direct business outreach
*Ironworkers Joint Apprenticeship & Training Trust in Wichita received $29,956 for training equipment including a forklift trainer
*Kansas Farm Bureau (statewide) received $90,000 for capacity building and direct business outreach
*Kansas State Council of SHRM (statewide) received $62,160 for capacity building and direct business outreach