MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College has received a $100,000 grant aimed at expanding registered apprenticeship opportunities and developing the workforce in rural Kansas.
The funding comes through the RAISE grant program from the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship and will support HutchCC’s efforts to connect workers with employers offering on-the-job training in high-demand occupations.
HutchCC currently supports 51 active apprentices. College officials said the new funding will allow the program to add 12 rural apprentices while creating additional pathways to well-paying careers in the region.
Registered apprenticeships allow participants to earn a paycheck while receiving structured, work-based training and developing skills needed for specific occupations. The model also gives employers an opportunity to train workers for positions that can be difficult to fill.
HutchCC said expanding apprenticeship opportunities can help address workforce needs in rural communities by giving residents access to career training without requiring them to leave the area.
The grant is supported through the Kansas Department of Commerce as part of the state's efforts to expand registered apprenticeship programs.
Businesses and individuals interested in apprenticeship opportunities can contact the Hutchinson Community College Business and Industry Institute for more information.