The Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is excited to announce that we are partnering with the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship in a pilot to become an Apprenticeship Intermediary. Partnering with the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship and the Kansas Department of Commerce, we will be able to develop systems that support registered apprenticeship programs and develop training opportunities for employers and their skilled workers to help grow the Kansas workforce. As the intermediary the Development Corporation will work with The Kansas Office of Apprenticeship to create apprentices, trainings, and other opportunities for businesses to recruit and retain employees.
The purpose of Registered Apprenticeships is to develop an employer-driven program model that combines on-the-job learning with related technical instruction that increases an apprentices' skill level and wages in both traditional and non-traditional industries. The Registered Apprenticeship system effectively meets the needs of both employers and workers. It is a flexible training system that can be customized to meet the needs of every business. Joann Knight, Executive Director of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation stated, “Our Board of Directors and Staff are committed to making a positive impact on the workforce challenges of our businesses. Through the creation of the Dodge City Has Jobs website, the Rural Education and Workforce Alliance and the now the partnership with the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship, we are poised to help our businesses meet their workforce needs.”
This program is used to grow apprenticeship opportunities for under-served populations, youth, new hires, and incumbent workers. Employer participation is the main factor in having a successful apprenticeship program.
Every apprentice that finishes the program receives a nationally recognized credential, referred to as a certificate of completion. This portable credential signifies that the Registered Apprentice is fully qualified to successfully perform an occupation. Apprentices are also finishing the program with an established relationship with the business to hopefully earn full time employment.
The Registered Apprenticeship program is an opportunity to invest in individuals that are missing a skill set and train them to be a skilled worker. Employers are getting the opportunity to grow their own workforce. “Partnering with Dodge City Economic Development is exciting by itself! Having them become an intermediary to grow Registered Apprenticeship in construction, healthcare, IT, manufacturing and the most important industries that support growth in Dodge City is fantastic! I am thrilled to see their partnerships and workforce grow!” Shonda Atwater, Director of Apprenticeship, and Internships.