On March 15, 2018, the Louisiana Workforce Commission released a policy to provide clarity on ApprenticeshipUSA grants issued by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), including who is able to receive funding, the application process, and allowable activities for individuals and entities.
This policy notes three possible funding streams: support services for apprentices, stipends for new apprentices, and incentives for organizations to create a Registered Apprenticeship program or to expand an active program.
Support services may include but are not limited to: transportation assistance, child care assistance, tools, supplies, uniforms, and/or textbooks for individuals who may not be able to enroll or complete a program without such resources.
The stipends for new apprentices are to encourage individuals to stay within their program. They consist of four quarterly checks of $250 each, totaling $1000, to assistance apprentices in their first year of the program when their wages are the lowest. With the progressive wage schedule of Registered Apprenticeship, typically by the end of the first year, apprentices will receive an increase in their salary. Attrition rates diminish considerably following the first year of a Registered Apprenticeship program.
Employer and program incentives, while not currently available, were written into the policy to prepare for future funding, ensuring that it can be released expeditiously when possible. The Apprenticeship Division understands that financial support would be valuable among programs to expand capacity and to increase equity.
The Apprenticeship Division hopes for programs, employers, and apprentices to take advantage of these opportunities as they are accessible and that it will have a positive impact on the State of Louisiana, providing jobs to more individuals in need and developing a strong staff of dedicated apprentices to help employers reach their goals.
