25 Sept 2020, Washington D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded approximately $22 million in contract investments to 12 Industry Intermediaries to continue the Department’s efforts to expand the number of apprenticeship opportunities in growing sectors across the country.

FASTPORT was initially selected as an Industry Intermediary in 2016 to help develop and expand Registered Apprenticeship programs. To date, that work has helped place 13,304 apprentices with 6,621 (50%) being from minority populations (3,498 (26%) are Veterans, 731 (5%) are youth, and 442 (3%) are female) into apprenticeship programs. It has also seen submitted programs for 44 organizations, with more than 100 employers in the development of national or local Registered Apprenticeship standards that have yet to be submitted for DOL approval. This new contract will allow FASTPORT’s work to continue to make use of the list of apprenticeable occupations to streamline RAP creation and ensure that existing resources are being understood, utilized, and tailored by industry.

FASTPORT has a proven and tested strategy to create, replicate and maintain registered apprenticeship programs that will be successful in any industry. Our focus is to educate and inspire employers to initiate and expand registered apprenticeship programs as a means of creating competitive advantage through workforce development. We clearly demonstrate success through the number and diversity of new apprentices matriculating into our apprenticeships. To facilitate the support and sustainability at an execution level within an employer, FASTPORT helps by providing train the trainer education and by introductions to key state and national DOL and apprenticeship resources. We also recognize individuals that have initiated or expanded apprenticeship programs by coordinating industry or apprenticeship accelerator speaking events. This has the effect of escalating the commitment to ensure their programs are running smoothly and growing.

FASTPORT also constantly search for new methods and channels to communicate the benefits of registered apprenticeship programs. We have learned from employers and will continue to learn to provide the necessary strategic and tactical support to ensure sustainability with that employer and industry. 

If you are an employer interested in creating or enhancing your apprenticeship program, please click here to contact us to chat directly. Or, visit our apprenticeship-specific website nationalapprenticeship.org for more information.