WorkSource Montgomery & the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board Celebrates the 85th Anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act
ROCKVILLE, MD — In honor of the 85th Anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act, WorkSource Montgomery (WSM) and the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board will be celebrating the U.S. Department of Labor’s eighth annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) that begins on November 14th and ends on November 20th. WSM will host a couple of events during this week aimed at informing and educating both young and adult jobseekers about apprenticeship opportunities available in the county.
“Registered Apprenticeship is a proven way for community members to obtain pathways to secure, high-paying careers in a wide variety of occupations,” said Anthony Featherstone, Executive Director. “We are proud to support National Apprenticeship Week and to showcase the impact apprenticeships have on building the workforce in this country.”
In partnership with Montgomery County Public School System (MCPS), WSM will host an informational session aimed at targeting MCPS’s transition students. Several presentations on apprenticeship opportunities in the county will be introduced to young people nearing graduation and who may want to pursue a path other than a 4-year secondary education. This will be a virtual event and will take place on November 17th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. For more information on this event or to register for it, go to https://worksourcemontgomery.com/event-details/youth-apprenticeship-program-information-session-11-17-2022/.
The second event will be a job fair at our East County location focusing on adult job seekers where we will present exciting apprenticeship opportunities. Our goal is to connect county residents with options for the training and job skills needed that provide a pathway to stable, well paying, family sustaining careers. This event will take place at the East County Regional Services Center located at 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904, on November 16th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. All Montgomery County residents are welcome to attend! For more information or to register for this event, go to https://worksourcemontgomery.com/event-details/east-county-registered-apprenticeship-fair-11-16-2022/.
NAW was established by the U.S. Department of Labor to celebrate the significant impact Registered Apprenticeship programs have had in re-building our economy, advancing racial and gender equity, building a pipeline to good, quality jobs, and supporting underserved communities. Hundreds of NAW events and activities will be taking place all over the country, to include open houses, skill competitions, community forums, apprentice graduations, business open houses, high school and college career fairs, apprenticeship signing days, industry roundtable events, diversity, and inclusion dialogues, and more.
WSM has demonstrated our commitment to Registered Apprenticeship (RA) by connecting Montgomery County residents to RA\’s in the construction, automotive, IT, and accounting industries. Apprenticeships are a great way to start a career by giving participants the opportunity to earn while they learn. As a gateway to apprenticeships in the county, WSM is committed to developing key partnerships with local Registered Apprenticeship Providers so that we can continue to offer as many opportunities as possible to local residents.
If you\’re an employer interested in learning more about how Registered Apprenticeship can strengthen your workforce, contact Cynthia Grissom at cgrissom@worksourcemontgomery.com. If you are a job seeker interested on how you can earn top wages while receiving top quality training, contact Melissa Cunningham at mcunningham@worksourcemontgomery.com.
About WorkSource Montgomery (WSM)
WSM is the fiduciary agent for Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding in Montgomery County. The organization operates the American Job Centers in Wheaton and Germantown and provides employment services to Montgomery County residents who are unemployed or underemployed. Programs and initiatives offered by WSM are supported in part by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $4,699,403. WSM engages employers in various industries throughout the county to ensure that their workforce needs are being met. For more information about WorkSource Montgomery and current recruitment opportunities, events, and workshops, visit our website at worksourcemontgomery.com.
About National Apprenticeship Week
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a nationwide celebration that offers established by the U.S. Department of Labor to bring together leading business, labor, education, apprentices, and other critical partners to showcase the impact Registered Apprenticeship programs have on building the American workforce, as well as highlight the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for re-building our economy, advancing racial and gender equity, building a pipeline to good, quality jobs, and supporting underserved communities. Registered Apprenticeships provide the opportunity to assist and propel individuals who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality by allowing apprentices to earn while they learn and providing a pathway to well-paying careers.
NAW gives employers, including sponsors and providers, the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices so that career seekers can learn more about the benefits of Registered Apprenticeship and the programs that are available in their communities. During NAW events, apprentices have a platform to share their apprenticeship experience and how it has transformed their lives. For more information, visit apprenticeship.gov/NAW.