PRESS RELEASE

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION For Release: IMMEDIATE

PILOT PROJECTS WILL HELP WOMEN GET INTO APPRENTICESHIPS

Helping women get into non-traditional jobs through apprenticeships is the goal of eight grants totaling $748,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.

"The number of women in high-wage non-traditional occupations has remained unchanged over the past 20 years," Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said. "These grants are not just opening doors, but filling job openings with highly skilled workers."

The grants will fund pilot projects to identify and eliminate barriers to recruiting, retaining, training and placing women apprentices in non-traditional occupations.

"Women face multiple barriers," added Ray Bramucci, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "Apprenticeships increase women's competitiveness in the job market and we want more women to be able to benefit from them."

The Department sought projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to eliminating barriers to women in non-traditional occupations. Most barriers relate to preparatory training, child care, transportation and paid on-the-job training opportunities.

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CATEGORY I: Best Practice Strategies for Eliminating Barriers to Female Entry into the "Traditional Trades"
1. Women Venture 2324 University Avenue St. Paul, MN 55412 Karla Melvin (651) 646-3803 ext. 106	$50,000
Project: Women Venture will manage and coordinate an initiative to eliminate barriers to recruitment, retention, and placement of women in apprenticeship programs and non-traditional occupations. The goal is to provide women access to livable-wage trade jobs and progress toward self-sufficiency. This project will approach the potential worker with comprehensive services, take into account all of the barriers she may be facing, and provide one-on-one support, supervision, and a range of career paths to meet individual needs.
2. Central Florida Joint Training Association, Inc. 2738 Forsyth Road Winter Park, FL 32792 Janet Skipper (407) 370-7280	$50,000
Project: The Central Florida Joint Training Association (JTA) pilot pre-apprenticeship is a combined work and training opportunity for welfare reform participants. These projects will utilize their specific special best practice strategies for the elimination of barriers to recruitment, retention, and placement of women in non- traditional occupations.

CATEGORY II: Partnerships That Include Addressing Multiple Barriers and Providing On-The-Job Training
1. IAM Center for Administering Rehabilitation & Employment Services 9000 Machinists Place, Suite 101 Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-2687 Tony Chapman (301) 967-4717	$100,000
Project: The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will implement and evaluate strategies that promote female participation in the registered apprenticeship programs of Ingalls Shipbuilding. This program is designed to ease the transition of women into high-skill, high-wage, non-traditional occupations, by assisting program participants to overcome significant barriers such as lack of childcare and transportation services. This model is entirely on-the-job and is a paid training opportunity.
2. City of Phoenix Housing Department 251 West Washington 4th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 LouAnn Smith 602-534-2585	$100,000
Project: The City of Phoenix Housing Department will use funds to allow the Economic Initiatives Program (EIP) for residents of public housing, to expose, recruit, and retain more women to non-traditional careers.
3. Chicago Women in Trades 220 S. Ashland Ave, Suite 101 Chicago, IL 60607-5308 Lauren Sugarman (312) 942-1444	$100,000
Project: Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT), in conjunction with South Chicago Workforce, Inc. will increase women's awareness and preparation for female apprentices in non-traditional training. Linkages will ensure that students in CWIT's Technical Opportunities Program will receive up-to-date information and preparation to be competitive candidates for the apprenticeship program. Such strategies will include hands-on activities and mentoring.
4. Community College of Southern Nevada Women's Center 3200 E. Cheyenne Avenue North Las Vegas, NV 89030-4296 Norma J. Bucelato (702) 651-4394	$98,080
Project: The Community College of Southern Nevada will plan, coordinate, and manage an Apprenticeship Preparation Training Program (APT). APT provides a comprehensive program for training and exposure to specific trades and apprenticeship programs to prepare women to qualify for entry into one of the approved partner Trade Union Apprenticeship Programs. Strategies include increasing awareness of females in the Trade Union Apprenticeship programs and benefits, skills needed and barriers for women entering the apprenticeship trades; providing education and hands-on exposure to the various construction trades; forming linkages and support systems for addressing women's multiple barriers to entry into non-traditional careers; and a program of training that will enable women to develop the skills needed to qualify for and enter an apprenticeship program.

CATEGORY III: Rural Initiative for Assisting Women in Enhancing and Expanding Their Knowledge and Abilities of High Skilled Occupations Through Classroom Theory, Hands-On Training and Where Possible, Either Paid or Non Paid On-The-Job Work Experience
1. State of Alaska/DOE P.O. Box 889 Seward, AK 99664 Richard Harrell (907) 224-4162	$50,000
Project: The Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) will provide training for students in the areas of residential electrical maintenance and structural maintenance. The project will provide training, but more importantly, will also provide for the help and assistance that each student will need to become a successful graduate and enter a construction workforce that is consistently demanding more women employees. AVTEC provides vocational and technical training for all Alaskans, the majority of whom originate from, and are employed in, rural locations throughout the state.

CATEGORY IV: Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Initiative
1. Apprenticeship & Nontraditional Employment for Women P.O. Box 2490 Renton, WA 98056 Contact: Gay Kiesling (425) 235-2212	$200,000
Project: Apprenticeship and Non-traditional Employment for Women will work in conjunction with Seattle Housing Authority Works focusing on out-of-school youth living in Seattle's Enterprise Community. The job readiness criteria employers require, plus specific trade skills, are incorporated in this 12 week multi-trades training program. The implementation plan will include coordination with all project partners, both national and local.