By Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity
Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity have announced $1M in funding for the next phase of the BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative, which aims to connect Arizonans with the skills they need for construction and trades jobs.
After the Governor launched BuildItAZ in 2023, Arizona saw growth in enrollment of construction and trades apprentices, marking progress toward her administration’s goal to double the number of construction and trades registered apprentices by 2026. To continue the efforts, OEO will grant $1M in federal workforce funds to registered apprenticeship programs to recruit more apprentices, retain apprentices already enrolled, and provide wrap-around services like childcare and transportation.
In early 2025, OEO will seek industry partners to launch and support a BuildItAZ outreach and public information campaign to recruit more apprentices, especially women, into good-paying construction careers.
In its first year, the initiative invested approximately $650K to assist five organizations in significantly expanding registered apprenticeship training opportunities and boosting program effectiveness. This funding has already directly supported more than 500 apprentices with critical needs such as tools, boots, books, tuition, and program support with training equipment and instructors, with this number growing over coming years.
“The grant has improved our ability to provide high-quality electrical training,” said Shawn Hutchinson of Phoenix Electrical JATC Apprenticeship Program, a BuildItAZ grantee. “We’ve enhanced our curriculum, integrating more hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology. This helps us produce the most qualified and safety-conscious electrical workers in the industry.”
“The BuildItAZ grants have elevated our apprenticeship programs by enhancing the skill level of our apprentices and strengthening our workforce,” said Allison Moore, human resources manager at Rummel Construction. “These improvements ensure a more robust program, empowering us to deliver innovative solutions in heavy civil construction.”
The BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative aims to expand opportunities for employers and apprentices in Arizona, with the goal of adding thousands of additional active apprentices by 2026. The initiative was developed through a workgroup of leaders from various sectors, including Industry, Education, Government, Trades, and Non-Profit Community Organizations, all operating under the leadership of the Governor’s Workforce Arizona Council.
The second round of BuildItAZ grants will be funded by federal grant funding through the Office of Economic Opportunity.
For more information about the BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative and to apply for grants starting Monday, December 3, visit OEO’s website at oeo.az.gov. (Source)