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Pima Partnering to Support 150 New Apprentices

Apprenticeship Week Kickoff is Nov. 12

November 8, 2019

Apprenticeship Week Kickoff is Nov. 12 at Downtown Campus

Tucson, AZ -- Pima Community College is partnering with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to develop and expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in Building and Construction Technology and Welding as part of the Expanding Community College Apprenticeships initiative (ECCA), a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

The partnership will help Pima meet growing needs for a skilled workforce in Southern Arizona. The three-year program will support 150 apprentices, and will be for a total of $140,000.  

ECCA is a cooperative agreement between AACC and DOL to provide direct support to community colleges to effectively expand registered apprenticeship opportunities across the county. AACC has selected 66 individual colleges and consortia, representing 105 colleges across 31 states and territories, to help develop Registered Apprenticeships with employers, with the goal of producing 16,000 new apprentices over the next three years. The project, with guidance from a 54-member advisory board assembled by AACC, will assist two-year institutions with identifying internships, externships and cooperative agreements for high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs.

Pima plans to bridge the skills gap and support incumbent workers by providing registered apprenticeship opportunities that include the following:

  • Work-based training opportunities
  • Option to have College as a sponsor
  • On-the-job training experiences
  • Apprenticeship opportunities
  • Credit and non-credit training/access to industry credentials 
  • Utilization of incumbent worker training to upskill current employees

Also, Pima’s Employer Engagement and Career Services is holding an Apprenticeship Week kickoff on Nov. 12 from 8:30-10 a.m. at Downtown Campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave.  Downtown Campus will be home to the College’s Center of Excellence in Applied Technology, and participants in the kickoff event will be updated on the College’s progress regarding apprenticeships and the Center of Excellence.

Businesses and organizations interested in becoming an apprenticeship partner can contact Denise Kingman, Workforce Development, (520) 206-4797 ordkingman1@pima.edu.

CONTACT:

Libby Howell, APR, Executive Director

Media, Government and Community Relations

(520) 206-4778, ehowell1@pima.edu

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