JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Chamber Foundation and Access Point have teamed up to expand apprenticeships in support of Missouri’s fast-growing technology industry.
St. Louis-based Access Point has committed to training 172 apprentices over the next year as part of the Missouri Chamber Foundation’s Industry-Driven IT Apprenticeship Grant program.
“We are excited to partner with the Missouri Chamber to help more apprentices embark on exciting IT careers,” said Bill Mitchell, Access Point’s Executive Director. “Our program equips promising students with skills, knowledge, and practical experience for success in the dynamic tech workforce. This marks the start of a collaborative journey where apprentices are empowered to reach their full potential within a community committed to diversity expansion.”
Through the Industry-Driven IT Apprenticeship Grant program, the Missouri Chamber Foundation provides support to IT companies that are creating or expanding registered apprenticeship programs. Companies receive an $800-$1,200 reimbursement per apprentice trained, while serving as mentors to each other and sharing best practices to improve their training and recruiting systems.
Other employers partnering in the Industry-Driven IT Apprenticeship Grant program are Cognizant, CyberUp, Cyderes, Dynamic Consultants Group, LaunchCode and Oracle Cerner.
“Missouri’s technology companies are fueling job growth in our state,” said Dan Mehan, Missouri Chamber president and CEO. “This program is helping create good-paying jobs and establish apprenticeship training systems that will last long after the grant funding has been spent. We are excited to partner with Access Point to expand access to these life-changing opportunities.”
Since its inception in 2020, the Industry-Driven IT Apprenticeship Grant program has served 3,171 apprentices. After completing the program, more than 98 percent have been hired for permanent, full-time jobs with an annual average salary of $63,000.
The program has also helped underserved populations access tech careers. Nearly 50% of the participating apprentices are people of color and nearly 40% are women. The grant has served 183 apprentices with disabilities and 84 veterans.
The Missouri Chamber Foundation created the Industry-Driven IT Apprenticeship Grant program after being awarded $6 million from the U.S. Department of Labor. The program is on track to train more than 5,300 tech apprentices in the coming years.
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the largest business association in Missouri. Together with the Missouri Chamber Federation, the Missouri Chamber represents more than 75,000 employers. To learn more, go to www.mochamber.com, or follow us @MissouriChamber on Twitter.
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