Page 4 - Demo

4 | Page November 8 I ssue%u201cSince becoming governor, Kansas has racked up award after award for being a national leader in creating jobs and attracting business investment,%u201d Governor Laura Kelly said. %u201cThis has created a demand for skilled workers for the jobs we are creating. Providing organizations with funding for apprenticeship programs strengthens the success we%u2019ve experienced.%u201dThe grants, administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, assist existing registered apprenticeship programs with technical instruction, on-the-job training, and staffing to implement and manage programs, marketing and outreach, and other activities.%u201cSince the beginning of the Kelly-Toland administration, we%u2019ve been persistent in growing our state%u2019s economy through more business recruitment and expansion of existing Kansas businesses,%u201d Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. %u201cWe are experiencing an increase in high-demand job opportunities, and these grants will provide businesses with more tools to develop and maintain a highly skilled and valuable workforce.%u201dThe statewide grant awardees include:Independent Electrical Contractors Association of Kansas, Sedgwick County: $70,886Kansas Farm Bureau, Riley County: $70,886Kansas Rural Water Association, Nemaha County: $54,170Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 441, Sedgwick County: $70,886The regional grant awardees include:Northeast %u2013 Full Service Chimney, Johnson County: $70,886South Central %u2013 Textron Aviation, Sedgwick County: $59,400South Central %u2013 Sheet Metal Workers JATC, Local #29, Sedgwick County: $52,000Southeast %u2013 Crossland Construction, Cherokee County: $70,886%u201cThis is the second year that our office has the ability to award funding strictly for investing in the apprenticeship programs throughout Kansas,%u201d said Shonda Anderson, director of the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship. %u201cThese grants provide the funds to assist organizations with hiring more instructors, providing essential training and safety equipment and other educational tools. These investments are critical to ensuring we can retain our workforce and sustain our economic growth.%u201d%u201cThe building and construction trades are experiencing unprecedented growth right now,%u201d said Brian Burnett, business manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 441 and president of Kansas State Building and Construction Trades. %u201cThese grants help to develop, prepare, and train the next generation of skilled craft workers not only within our program through the Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship but also through many other programs across the state.%u201dThe Office of Registered Apprenticeship will present the third annual KANSASWORKS National Apprenticeship Week Summit on Nov. 21 at the Salina Area Airport. To register, click here.To learn more about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, visit here.