February 28, 2018
St. Charles County, Missouri — The manufacturing apprenticeship grant program from the Missouri Job Center of St. Charles County now can be used to help train and promote existing employees at local companies in addition to previously publicized eligible new hires, officials announced today. The facility is the first American Job Center in the state to be certified by the U.S. Department of Labor as a registered apprenticeship program sponsor. The center received $255,000 in federal and state funding to begin a new manufacturing apprenticeship pilot program.
“I am pleased that this program has been opened up to include current employees,” says Scott J. Drachnik, Executive Director of the Missouri Job Center of St. Charles County. “Now, employers can use this training and wage assistance program to help their existing employees learn new skills and take on new levels of responsibilities in their businesses.
“Apprenticeships have been around for centuries,” Drachnik continues, “but there is a new and growing awareness by businesses and job-seekers across America about this proven method of training workers and filling job openings. We are looking for more local manufacturers to work with to help them hire and train individuals who will receive occupational credentials from the U.S. Department of Labor after they successfully complete this new pilot program.”
Drachnik says there are five core components in the registered apprenticeship program: 1) Training on the job, 2) Classroom training, 3) Work mentorship, 4) Progressive wages, and 5) National occupational credentialing.
The St. Charles County program, which began in 2017, uses a competency-based model which allows expedited advancement based on demonstrated performance, rather than a minimum timeframe spent in training. Companies that hire, or already have eligible workers, could receive reimbursement of wages for up to six months during their training period. Participating employers must agree at the outset to hire their apprentice as a full-time employee, and wages must start at $12 an hour or higher.
Interested employers and job-seekers who are interested in learning more about this registered apprenticeship program should contact Vicki Swartzenberg at 636-255-6060 ext. 5250, email vswartzenberg@sccmo.org or visit the Missouri Job Center of St. Charles County at 212 Turner Boulevard in St. Peters.
For more information about program requirements and eligibility, view the Missouri Job Center of St. Charles County’s “Apprenticeship FAQs for Employers & Job Seekers” brochure online at sccmo.org/apprenticeship.
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