Home Depot Foundation Commits $50 Million to Skilled Training; Emphasis on Transitioning Service Members
Home Depot announced a $50 million commitment to train 20,000 tradespeople over the next 10 years in order to fill the growing skilled labor gap. In 2017, The Home Depot Foundation launched a pilot trades training program for members separating from the military in partnership with nonprofit Home Builders Institute (HBI) on Ft. Stewart and Ft. Bragg. The program, which has a job placement rate of more than 90 percent, will now roll out on additional bases across the United States. To learn more, read Home Depot’s announcement here.
Welcoming Military Spouses to LinkedIn’s Military and Veterans Programs
LinkedIn recently announced that they are expanding their military and veterans program to include military spouses through a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program. Through this program, spouses can receive one year of LinkedIn Premium during each of their moves to new installations to help with career transitions, and once again upon conclusion of military service. Read LinkedIn’s announcement here.
Newport News Shipyard Plans to Create 2,000 New Net Jobs over Next Five Years
Newport News Shipbuilding plans to expand its workforce to about 25,000 by creating 2,000 new jobs over the next four years, approximately. Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball will lead a new partnership with the shipyard to aid in the hiring push. It will focus on promoting opportunities at the company via state agencies that deal with employment, veterans, community colleges, and economic development. Read the announcement here.
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Award Of $47,600,000 in Training Grants to Help Homeless Veterans Re-Enter the Workforce
U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced the award of 163 Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) grants totaling $47,600,000. This funding will provide workforce reintegration services to more than 18,000 homeless veterans. Funds are being awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards; local public agencies and nonprofit organizations; tribal governments; and faith-based and community organizations. Homeless veterans may receive occupational skills training, apprenticeship opportunities, and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance. Read the announcement here.
Veteran Opportunities with Holland
Holland, a regional LTL transportation provider, has partnered with the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a professional truck driver apprenticeship program for veterans. The program offers veterans career training in the trucking industry as they integrate back into civilian life. In addition to paid training, eligible veterans can receive their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill funds while completing the apprenticeship.
In addition to the partnership with the Department of Labor and the VA, Holland has also received grant funds for $40,000 to support the training program. The funds were approved at the end of 2017 when Holland received the Department of Labor Apprenticeship certification. The grant is from FASTPORT, a veteran employment software company with a mission to connect veterans to career opportunities. FASTPORT works with Holland to provide veterans with meaningful careers and to build a pipeline between the military community and the trucking industry.
Information on how to apply for the Holland Veterans program can be found at http://careers.hollandregional.com/military.html or by calling 844-617-6410.
After the Army, a New Career in Tech
By Leo Kay
Through hard work and a unique apprenticeship program, Antonio Williams of Louisiana has transitioned from the military to the tech industry after a 22-year career in the U.S. Army as a culinary specialist.
Apprenti is a program of the Washington Technology Industry Association Workforce Institute that addresses the workforce shortage in the tech industry through paid, on-the-job training and education. It began in Washington state and has since expanded nationally through a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship intermediary contract.
As a first step, Antonio spent 12 weeks in an intensive training program at Honolulu Community College in Hawaii, where he was located at the time he left military service. This “pre-apprenticeship” phase allowed Antonio to learn foundational skills relating to hardware, networking, software deployment, and troubleshooting. He received certifications in A+, Network+, Linux+, and Server+ before being placed as a data center technician apprentice with a technology company in Portland, Oregon.
As an apprentice, he continues to learn and enhance his skills through hands-on work. Antonio’s salary as an apprentice equals about $50,000 annually and he expects to be hired full-time within a year at a salary roughly double his current earnings.
“The program provided a great avenue to change careers after the military,” said Antonio. “I would recommend this program to anyone.”