The Bowser administration, through the D.C. Department of Employment Services, (DOES) announced on Oct. 21 an investment of $1.2 million into the Capital Workforce Innovation Consortium, a next-generation sector partnership between public and private entities aimed at confronting workforce challenges in the District.
Over the next year, through this investment, the consortium will provide capacity building, technical assistance, and tools free of cost to training providers in the District. The partnership will also provide grants to support training providers, such as registered apprenticeship sponsors and pre-apprenticeship sponsors, and institutions of higher education. This funding will contribute toward providing training that will address skill and talent gaps and create a new pipeline in the fields of innovation and technology.
“Through this investment, we’re ensuring District training providers have the support needed to build a skilled workforce ready for today’s economy,” said DOES Director Unique Morris-Hughes.
Additionally, one of the pillars of the partnership’s mission is the launch of Skills Nation DC, a digital hub.
“With the launch of SkillsNation, residents can now apply for high-quality training programs and apprenticeships, connecting directly with companies in the Capital Workforce Innovation Consortium. Applications are now open, offering new opportunities in innovation and technology,” Morris-Hughes continued.
Incentives were also announced for companies participating in the consortium that include $200,000 in training funding and $50,000 awarded in $10,000 increments to start-ups that hire District residents as full-time apprentices, with funding provided by the United States Department of Labor Apprenticeship Building America program.
To learn more about the Consortium, go to thecapitalworkforceinnovationconsortium.com. To learn more about SkillsNation, visit skillsnation.org.
