COLUMBIA, SC, Oct. 25, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) awarded the SC Technical College System a $900,000 grant to increase and diversify apprenticeship in the state. This grant is part of the ApprenticeshipUSA State Expansion Grant and represents the first time that the federal government will provide funding to support States in their efforts to expand and diversify registered apprenticeship to better respond to industry workforce demands.
 

USDOLETA's goals for the grant are threefold: 1) help states advanced registered apprenticeship as a workforce development strategy and post-secondary education career pathway; 2) support integrated, statewide apprenticeship strategies and meet the demand for new programs in both traditional and nontraditional industries and 3) catalyze state innovations to significantly increase apprenticeships for all American workers, particularly low-income individuals and underrepresented populations.
 

The SC Technical College System's grant - SC Apprenticeship Initiative Expansion - is designed to expand youth and pre-apprenticeship opportunities, continue return on investment study to include all industries, promote STEM Premier and SC Future Makers and increase availability for dual enrollment programs.
 

"The SC Technical College System and its Apprenticeship Carolina program are dedicated to increasing the awareness and use of registered apprenticeships in South Carolina. We know from experience that apprenticeships can go a long way to bridging the skills gap that so many companies across our state face," said Susan Pretulak, vice president of economic development for the SC Technical College System. "This substantial expansion grant from DOLETA will help us enhance our efforts in South Carolina to expand apprenticeship through emphasis on our youth and pre-apprenticeship opportunities. These programs are shown to garner positive results by creating both work and college ready young adults."
 

An apprenticeship is a time-tested method of employee development that combines supervised on-the-job learning and job-related education. A program "registered" with DOLETA shows an employer's visible commitment to developing a high-quality workforce that meets nationally recognized training standards. Registered apprenticeship programs also enable employees to receive incremental wage increases as they demonstrate new competencies throughout the training program.