WIA Awarded $29.9 Million to Expand Registered Apprenticeships for Telecommunications Workforce

The Wireless Infrastructure Association announced it has been selected as one of five organizations nationwide to receive funding through a $29.9 million US. Department of Labor cooperative agreement designed to help employers establish and maintain registered apprenticeship programs. The award will enable WIA to provide participating employers with pay-for-performance incentives that support the development, expansion, and long-term success of apprenticeship programs across the telecommunications industry. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the workforce needed to design, deploy, and maintain the networks that power America’s economy and digital future. Through this agreement, and building on its leadership in registered apprenticeship through the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program, WIA will work with employers to expand access to registered apprenticeships, a proven workforce development model that combines paid, on-the-job training with instruction and mentorship. Apprenticeships create opportunities for veterans, students, career changers, and workers seeking in-demand careers while helping employers develop a reliable pipeline of skilled talent.