New Mexico Receives $5.95 Million Grant to Expand Apprenticeship Programs
Department of Labor to launch the Energizing, Building, and Connecting Through Apprenticeship Program. This funding will be used to broaden the scope of Registered Apprenticeships across the state, focusing on creating and strengthening career pathways in clean energy and infrastructure development.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed her support for the initiative, stating, “Investing in clean energy apprenticeships ensures a sustainable future, providing well-paying jobs and supporting our local green energy economy and infrastructure.”
The grant will enhance and expand apprenticeship programs in clean energy and infrastructure, with the goal of supporting businesses by ensuring they have access to a skilled and ready workforce.
The Energizing, Building, and Connecting Through Apprenticeship Program consists of four key components:
- Recruitment: Attracting applicants for pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, as well as integrating them into registered apprenticeship programs.
- Enrollment and Support: Enrolling and supporting pre-apprentices in relevant programs and facilitating their progression into registered apprenticeships.
- Program Development: Identifying partners to establish or expand pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs in clean energy and infrastructure.
- Employer Engagement: Encouraging employers to hire completers of pre-apprenticeship programs as registered apprentices.
The program will leverage partnerships with businesses, labor unions, workforce development organizations, and peer state agencies to promote diversity and provide opportunities for underrepresented and underserved communities throughout New Mexico.
NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair highlighted the significance of the grant, stating, “Our state plan identifies infrastructure development and energy transition as priority sectors. This funding will enable the department to utilize effective strategies of pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship to address these needs.”
Pre-apprenticeship programs, which teach foundational skills like math and reading, are typically offered through high schools and community colleges. In New Mexico, students must be at least 16 years old and a junior in high school to participate. These programs may be integrated into the school curriculum or conducted outside traditional school settings.
Despite the potential benefits, New Mexico faces challenges in educational proficiency. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the state ranks lowest in math and reading proficiency, with only 19% of eighth graders reading proficiently and 13% demonstrating proficiency in math.
The objectives of the grant align with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Combined Plan, which aims to grow a workforce that supports safe and healthy communities, modernize infrastructure, and prepare for economic changes in New Mexico.
