Starting this fall, local high school and college students will benefit from a $3,995,671 million apprenticeship grant recently awarded to a consortium of five Missouri colleges led by Jefferson College, school officials announced.
The Department of Labor Apprenticeship Building America grant funds will be used to establish or enhance apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing, nursing and teacher education over the next four years.
The grant marks the first time Jefferson College has led such a consortium, said Kenny Wilson, the college’s dean of instruction.
“The grant represents a significant opportunity for Jefferson College to lead in the implementation of vital apprenticeship programs that strengthen our local workforce and provide students with valuable, hands-on experience in high-demand fields,” Jefferson College President Dena McCaffrey said.
Jefferson College will receive $1,453,881 million, the lion’s share of the grant funds. However, as the consortium lead, the college must pay for staff needed to operate the program out of its portion, he said.
“We’re responsible for hiring the grant accountant and the grant lead person,” he said.
The other four colleges that make up the Missouri Southeast Pathways to Work Consortium include East Central College in Union, Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff and Central Methodist University in Fayette.
East Central will receive $793,775 from the grant, Three Rivers will receive $724,249, Mineral Area will receive $691,727 and Central Methodist will receive $332,039, Wilson said.
“(The colleges) all submitted a budget plan for the grant. The money will be distributed based on the requested grant level,” he said.
“A lot of the grant money will go to direct student services, such as tuition expenses. It will also pay for student ‘wrap-around’ services, which include transportation and other ancillary matters.”
Wilson said the grant money will assist students in different ways.
“Students at both the secondary and post-secondary levels will benefit from increased access to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs,” he said. “It’s for students in our Area Technical School, as well as students interested in pursuing a career in one of these three areas (advanced manufacturing, nursing or teacher education).
“We have employer partner relationships. These will be expanded.”
Wilson pointed to those interested in teaching as an example of what the program will offer.
“We will be building on the Grow Your Own state teacher education program,” he said. “If you’re a Dunklin student, you could be training and working in the Dunklin R-5 School District (through the grant program).”
Wilson said those enrolled in the apprenticeship programs are paid while learning on the job.
He said the grant will benefit a broad range of students.
“We’re going to start with high school sophomores and juniors to get them in pre-apprentice programs,” he said. “You can also be in college.
“Those interested in the grant programs should talk to their high school counselors. If it’s a post-secondary student, reach out to the Jefferson College Enrollment Services Department.”
Chris DeGeare, the Jefferson College vice president of academic affairs, said the grant money should have a wide-ranging effect on apprenticeship programs in the region.
“Receiving this funding is a game-changer for apprenticeships at Jefferson College and the southeast region of Missouri,” DeGeare said. “It allows us to provide comprehensive training and real-world experience to our students, preparing them for successful careers while also meeting the workforce needs in our region.”
“We’ll implement (the programs funded by the grant money) over the coming months,” he said. “We’re incredibly excited about this and feel it will be incredibly transformative for the college.”