ECC Awarded Pre-Apprenticeship Funding

The Missouri Office of Workforce Development (OWD) recently released a list of pre-apprenticeship programs that will be receiving grants of up to $75,000 as part of the Missouri Apprentice Ready initiative.

East Central College is one of just 10 applicants to receive an award that were issued across the state to other community colleges and area organizations. A pre-apprentice receives technical and career awareness skills development through industry relevant training and workplace exposure supervised by a mentor.

The pre-apprenticeship program will cultivate relationships with area job centers, community-based organizations, and employers to ensure that pre-apprentices can easily access tutoring, case management, childcare, mental health supports, transportation, and housing.

“This grant is key to helping our area manufacturers,” says Dr. Ed Shelton, executive director, ECC’s Center for Workforce Development. “Our program is geared to providing workers with the job skills they need to be a successful candidate to fill one of the many vacancies in the manufacturing industry throughout east central Missouri.”

Several area manufacturers support ECC’s program, that include WEG, Clemco Industries, Henniges Automotive, GH Tool and Mold and Cohen Architectural Woodworking.

WEG, specifically, is looking for their pre-apprentices to receive an entry assessment, as well as safety training, computer basics, industrial math, effective communication, team building, quality, lean and manufacturing processes.

Pre-apprenticeship programs will be provided at no cost to the participant and are also designed to prepare workers to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship program.

“We have great success with 12 area manufacturers participating in our Registered Apprenticeship program”, says Dr. Shelton. “The programs train and enhance the job skills of current workers, which leads to the positive retention efforts of a company’s workforce.”

Once completed, a registered apprentice receives a one-year certificate in Manufacturing from East Central College with the opportunity to complete a Manufacturing degree.

For more information about pre-apprenticeship or registered apprenticeships, contact the ECC Center for Workforce Development at 636-649-5800 or email training@eastcentral.edu.