Catalyst for Change: DAS Awards $31 Million in the First Round of the CA Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant
The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) announced the grantees of the first round of the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) Grant on July 17, 2024, from the initially announced amount of $25 million to $31 million. The decision to allocate $31 million for the first round of COYA is reflective of the impressive number of quality proposals and the urgent need for workforce development centered around registered youth pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships. COYA will deepen and expand partnerships with community-based organizations and CA labor workforce partners. Through these investments, CA is ensuring that employers are supported and encouraged to hire young workers to meet their workforce needs, driving economic growth and innovation.
COYA will serve opportunity youth, those from 16 to 24 years of age who are at risk of disconnection or are disconnected from the education system or employment, unhoused, in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal legal systems, living in concentrated poverty, or are facing barriers to labor market participation. Youth pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs are vital for enhancing workplace development, acting as both equity enablers and career multipliers. The first round of COYA grantees will embark on developing and expanding registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for opportunity youth. This grant will open doors for opportunity youth to enter and thrive in top-paying careers that include healthcare, education, business services, advanced manufacturing, and more. By bridging the gap between learning and real-world applications, youth apprenticeships ensure that opportunity youth can succeed and prosper in in-demand fields.
Read DIR’s COYA news release below.
News Release:DAS Awards Grants to Boost Apprenticeships for California Youth | California Department of Industrial Relations
July 2024