Governor Brian Sandoval, Chancellor Dan Klaich, and Truckee Meadows Community College President Dr. Maria Sheehan have announced that the Northern Nevada College Apprenticeship Consortium was awarded $2.9 million from the U.S. Department of Labor, American Apprenticeship Award program.
The Consortium is a partnership between Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), which will serve as the grant administrator, and Western Nevada College (WNC).
The award will develop the career skills of 400 Nevadans for jobs at Tesla, Click Bond, Panasonic, and other manufacturing companies over the next five years. The program is aimed at developing the work skills and increasing workforce opportunities for members of underrepresented populations, lower-skilled or disadvantaged populations, and veterans.
"Developing a skilled workforce is a vital next step in ensuring Nevada's continued economic growth," said Governor Brian Sandoval. "This grant has been awarded at a time when so many Nevadans, especially our veterans returning from service overseas, are seeking opportunities to upgrade their skills and change careers. I commend TMCC and WNC for taking the steps necessary to prepare their students for the potentials found in the new Nevada economy."
With the new funds, the Consortium will implement scalable apprenticeship programs to develop a more skilled workforce and increase career opportunities in the burgeoning advanced manufacturing sector in Nevada. TMCC and WNC will develop self-paced and competency-based flexible apprenticeship training, aligned with employer needs. Technical courses will be broken into content-specific modules, taken in order as defined by the employer.
"This grant is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of our community colleges and our public-private partnerships," said Dan Klaich, NSHE Chancellor. "The Northern Nevada College Apprenticeship Consortium has been a valuable partner in helping us develop and expand our apprenticeship programs."
Seven leading employers have joined the Consortium as apprenticeship sponsors and additional businesses will be recruited. Participating employers include:
- Click Bond, manufacturer of high technology products
- Hamilton Co., manufacturer of liquid handling and storage solutions
- Hose Master manufactures expansion joints
- International Game Technology manufactures gaming equipment
- NOW Foods manufactures natural foods and personal care products
- Panasonic, manufacturer of electronics and advanced batteries
- Tesla Motors production center for lithium ion cells and battery packs
Community partners including JOIN, Inc. and Community Services Agency, among others, will provide supportive services such as assessing work skills, remediation programs for basic skills deficits including math and communications, pre-apprenticeship training (OSHA, CPR and first-aid, print reading, electrical safety, material handling), high school dual enrollment programs, childcare and transportation to qualifying individuals.
"TMCC is grateful for the community partnerships that will serve students seeking employment," said Dr. Sheehan. "They will receive excellent preparation to get a better job and achieve their career goals."
In all, the Department of Labor awarded $175 million in American Apprenticeship Grants to 46 public-private partnerships marrying the efforts of employers, organized labor, non-profits, local governments, and educational institutions to expand high-quality apprenticeships. The winning grantees have pledged to train and hire more than 34,000 new apprentices in high-growth and high-tech industries including health care, IT and advanced manufacturing during the next five years. The American Apprenticeship Award Grants were created to expand on President Obama's call to action in his State of the Union address in 2014, and since then over 55,000 new apprenticeship opportunities have already been created.
"This grant, coming on the heels of the TAACCCT grants, provides a solid foundation for Western Nevada College to work in concert with TMCC to provide a skilled, well trained workforce for area employers and we welcome this opportunity," Western Nevada College President Chet Burton said.
For more information about the apprenticeship programs, contact TMCC's Technical Science Division at 775-856-5300 or WNC's Dr. Robert Wynegar at 775-445-4431.