YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Those employers and ApprenticeOhio sponsors training tomorrow’s workforce through apprenticeships over the past two years now can apply for grants to help cover the costs.
In conjunction with National Workforce Development Month, Gov. Mike DeWine’s office announced Sept. 12 that up to $25,000 in grant money is available through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to those who incurred apprenticeship-related training expenses since July 1, 2020.
The reimbursement grants are available as a result of a federal “Building State Capacity to Expand Apprenticeship Through Innovation” grant, which the ODJFS received in 2020.
To apply for the grants, sponsors and employers can go to Apprentice.Ohio.gov through Dec. 31 to apply for up to $2,500 per apprentice for up to 10 apprentices.
The money can help cover the cost of training and tool allowances. Applicants must have both a state of Ohio OH/ID and a federal registered apprenticeship ID.
Ohio has 269 occupations that offer apprenticeships and ranks second in the nation for the number of registered apprentices with more than 20,000 enrolled, according to state officials.
Programs such as ApprenticeOhio provide paid on-the-job training, related technical instruction and mentoring. In addition to being paid to learn, apprentices avoid student loan debt, while receiving extensive training, which includes at least 2,000 hours of training on the job training and 144 hours in the classroom. Upon completion employees can earn an average of $72,000 per year.
ApprenticeOhio is the state’s apprenticeship agency helping employers develop apprenticeship programs, approving applications for sponsorship and providing oversight and technical support for the programs.