Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Jim McDermott (WA-07), Dave Reichert (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Denny Heck (WA-10) today announced that Washington is being awarded a $2.7 million U.S. Department of Labor ApprenticeshipUSA State Expansion Grant to boost apprenticeships in the state.

The announcement comes after the Members threw their support behind Washington’s application in a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor last month.

“The need for highly-skilled workers in Washington is significant, especially given our robust aerospace industry,” the Members wrote. “We ask that you give full and fair consideration to Washington state’s grant application and look forward to working with you on a federal level to promote apprenticeships and expand the skills of our workforce.”

The state expansion grant program exists to help states develop and implement comprehensive strategies to support apprenticeship expansion to new sectors and underserved populations, as well as enhance state capacity to conduct outreach and work with employers to start new programs.

Washington state’s application aims to use apprenticeships to help increase the number of people in the state who are able to find and maintain good jobs – especially people in disadvantaged populations – and help close the skill gaps that employers need, especially in manufacturing industries.

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