Amid a national scramble for trained workers in many fields, the Community College System of New Hampshire is looking to boost a five-year-old apprenticeship program that lets students learn as they work at local businesses.

“It has really accelerated, both with the number of employers that want to set up registered apprenticeship programs, and as an option for high-school graduates looking to earn while they learn,” said Charlotte Williams, Apprenticeship Building America grant manager for the Community College System of NH.

The program, ApprenticeshipNH, was launched in 2017 and has been used by 1,167 individuals with 63 companies.

Now the organization will be giving $340,000 annually to support public/private partnerships to expand the program, with funding awarded through a request for proposal (RFP) process. The goal is to create regional hubs aligned with community colleges that can better meet the differing needs of industries in different parts of the state. Another goal is to better channel students from under-represented backgrounds into industries experiencing labor shortages.

“We want to make it easier for employers and apprentices to get the resources they need,” said Williams.

Regional hubs are a partnership among industry, community organizations, educators and state agencies. ApprenticeshipNH will serve as an intermediary to provide technical assistance and financial support for apprenticeship programs in many sectors and occupations. Particular interest involves “New Hampshire’s in-demand industries of construction, education/childcare, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, technology and transportation/logistics,” the organization said in a press release.

The four-year effort, CCSNH seeks to engage at least 50 to 100 employers and enroll 500 to 700 participants in Registered Apprenticeship Programs as well as develop 32 new Pre-Apprenticeship programs while expanding 60 existing Pre-Apprenticeships.

The RFP process is open through March 10, and will be awarded in three tiers, between $10,000 and $100,000, based on the number of apprentices served on an annual basis.

Funding for the program comes through an Apprentice Building America (ABA) grant awarded to the Community College system from the U.S. Department of Labor.

ApprenticeshipNH will be hosting two informational webinars on the RFP process next week. You can register for a webinar at one of these two links:

■February 7, 9:00 a.m.    https://ccsnh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KtJ673-uSlON8Dyk64lF_w

■February 9, 3:30 p.m.  https://ccsnh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XsdGJ70qRpKQnCIVA6u4Lw

CCSNH and ApprenticeshipNH are also offering 4 in-person networking opportunities to connect organizations looking to form partnerships for their funding proposal.  Registration can occur at the following links:

Central Hub: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7:30 a.m. NHTI – Concord’s Community College: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/528462494547

Northern Hub: Monday, Feb. 13, 9 a.m. White Mountains Community College, Berlin: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/524623612347

Western Hub: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m. River Valley Community College, Lebanon: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/528448713327

Southern Hub: Friday, Feb. 17, 8 a.m. Nashua Community College: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/528439245007

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