TradesFutures is partnered with the United States Department of Labor and the National Urban League through a Cooperative Agreement entitled “Scaling Apprenticeship Readiness Across the Building Trades Initiative” to scale apprenticeship readiness programming and establish new pipelines from local communities into registered apprenticeship programs within the construction industry.
Through the agreement, TradesFutures continues to advance its core mission, support the on-going operations of its network of 250+ Apprenticeship Readiness Programs (ARPs), and establish new programs to expand its reach across the country. TradesFutures administers the industry-recognized apprenticeship readiness Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), assists programs with developing relationships with local Community Based Organizations, and works to facilitate placement opportunities for participants. TradesFutures is also able to directly fund several programs in the following states through competitive subawards: Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New York, California, Iowa, Arizona, Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, North Dakota, and New Mexico.
National Urban League (NUL), TradesFutures’ key partner in the agreement, directly supports select ARPs by providing recruitment and wrap-around services. Urban League affiliates in six key locations receive direct subaward funding to increase awareness of ARPs among historically underrepresented populations and provide supportive services (including case management services, stipends, PPE, and post-placement services) to ARP participants. Urban League affiliates in the following locations receive funding through this agreement: Memphis, TN; Philadelphia, PA; Kansas City, MO; Pittsburgh, PA; Rochester, NY; and Cincinnati, OH.
Through the initiative, TradesFutures aims to serve 13,000 participants through ARPs and participating programs will aim place interested graduates into Construction Registered Apprenticeship Programs. The agreement began on April 1, 2023, and is scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2027.