Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

The Alabama Department of Commerce, in the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature, was directed to develop a robust apprenticeship program for the state and include a state income tax credit for eligible Alabama employers. The intent is for Commerce to develop along with the USDOL Apprenticeship a new apprenticeship model that will be inclusive and appealing not only to manufacturing but four other sectors to include health care, information technology, construction and logistics/transportation. The legislature wants a specific focus on small business and minority owned business. The newly forming section within the Workforce Division of Commerce will be known as Apprenticeship Alabama. The staff will rely on USDOL program requirements for all new apprenticeships as the tax credit will apply only to registered apprenticeships and the staff will work closely with the Alabama Department of Revenue for the income tax credit. Apprenticeship Alabama staff will work closely with Alabama companies to develop an apprenticeship, with eligible training providers for required instruction and with individual apprentices as they seek more skills. Apprenticeship Alabama staff will work closely with Alabama companies to develop an apprenticeship, with eligible training providers for required instruction and with individual apprentices as they seek more skills. As the Apprenticeship Alabama staff and the WIOA state staff are located within the Alabama Department of Commerce and both sections report directly to the Deputy Secretary of Workforce programs there is a built in alignment, which was the actual goal of the Governor and Legislative Leadership. Included in the apprenticeship legislation is a directive for the Deputy Secretary of Commerce to work closely with the Chancellor of the Community College System in develop the rules and apprenticeship process. The development is underway and the Community College System and Department of Commerce are jointly developing the rules, process and program. The ACCS has an ever expanding Work Based Learning initiative in both non-credit and CTE credit programs. This is targeting ALL populations. As part of our Work Based Learning strategy we currently have registered apprenticeships, nonregistered apprenticeships, Cooperative learning, clinicals and preceptorships. We are in the process of redesigning CTE programs to ensure Work Based Learning is an integral part in any new CTE program submitted that is a key component of the program. We will be working to transition the current Work Based Learning programs into registered apprenticeships. ACCS is in discussion with the US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship in becoming a Registered Apprenticeship College Consortium (RACC) as a state-wide system. We anticipate implementation in the fall of 2016. In support of these strategic and initiatives to incorporate Registered Apprenticeship into Alabama’s WIOA strategy and services and to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities to Alabama’s communities, business, and constituents served by the state and the business sector, the Alabama Department of Commerce-Workforce Development Division under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary of Commerce has engaged with leaders from Governor’s Office, ADOL, ALSDE (K-12), ACCS, Veterans Affairs, Related Labor Organizations, Industry Associations, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development, other Apprenticeship Training Organization in the implementation ApprenticeshipUSA State Accelerator Grant. The key component of this accelerator grant opportunity is the completion of the ApprenticeshipUSA State Accelerator Grant Action Planning Tool. The Strong collaboration between the partnering agencies in the completion of the self-assessment tool has yielded a strategic path forward to expand statewide apprenticeship opportunities by utilizing and leveraging WIOA Tile I, II, and, III resources. In addition, the ApprenticeshipUSA State Accelerator Grant Action Planning Tool is being used to design and develop a USDOL ApprenticeshipUSA Expansion Grant. These two critical planning initiatives along with the partnerships from the Governor’s Office, ADOL, ALSDE (K-12), ACCS, Veterans Affairs, Related Labor Organizations, Industry Associations, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development, other Apprenticeship Training Organizations will incorporate Registered Apprenticeship into Alabama’s state WIOA strategy and services. The WIOA state apprenticeship goals, strategy, and services are in direct alignment with the USDOL Department’s goals for ApprenticeshipUSA State Expansion The following are the three priorities: . 1) To advance the State’s Registered Apprenticeship as a workforce development strategy and post- secondary education career pathway that will expand and create, adaptable, and highly skilled workforce. 2) To integrate, Statewide apprenticeship strategies and increase Alabama’s capacity to engage industry and meet the demand for new programs in both traditional and non-traditional industries such as IT, Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing, Building Trades, Cybersecurity, and Business Services. 3) To advance the State’s innovations to significantly increase apprenticeship opportunities for all Alabama’s workers, particularly low-income individuals and underrepresented populations in apprenticeship including youth, women, communities of color, Native Americans, and persons with disabilities, and take steps to facilitate their successful completion of apprenticeship programs. By designing, developing, and implementing the Alabama Department of Commerce - Workforce Development Division Apprenticeship Alabama State Expansion initiative, the Department is helping the business and community stakeholders to bring together the right partners to strengthen Alabama’s apprenticeship systems under the WIOA State Plan for the State of Alabama.