Youth Apprenticeship Readiness to serve 500 youth in Hillsborough and Pinellas County

Dropbox folder of stock images of AMIkids kids training

TAMPA, Fla., July 10, 2020 – AMIkids Inc., a national nonprofit organization that has been transforming troubled youth into responsible members of the community for more than 50 years, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $2.5 Million U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grant. This program will serve 500 16-to-24-year-olds over a 4-year period in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.  

The program offers nationally-accredited construction vocational certification, as well as job placement services. Recruited participants will be assessed, provided support services, and placed into Pre-Apprenticeship at AMIkids Pinellas and AMIkids Tampa. This funding will be used to provide pre-apprenticeship occupational training leading to industry credentials, workforce activities, enrollment in registered apprenticeship, and support services to remove barriers to success.

Participants will then be placed in a job with a partner employer and gain facilitated entry through agreements with Construction Trade Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) partner programs. Participants who complete these RAPs will earn industry-recognized certifications and journeyman credentials in their respective occupations.

“AMIKids is a trusted partner in our community with a track record of using federal investments to help our youth succeed and develop into responsible and productive citizens,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. “I look forward to visiting again soon and see the opportunities they are able to provide through the Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Grant to train young people in Tampa for good paying jobs in industries including manufacturing, information technology, cybersecurity, and healthcare.”

As part of the grant requirement, AMIkids Inc. has partnered with several industry employers, apprenticeship programs, workforce development boards, and educational institutions to create pathways for youth into RAPs, including:

• Masonry Association of Florida (MAF)
• Gulf Coast Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
• Hillsborough Community College (HCC)
• Pinellas Technical College (PTC)
• Florida Department of Education, State Apprenticeship Office
• Florida Masonry Education Foundation
• Career Course Tampa Bay
• Career Source Pinellas
• Lennar Homes

The purpose of the funding is to expand or establish new apprenticeship models for youth while developing a strong youth apprenticeship pipeline for local employers.

“Our Vocational Education & Job Placement Programming is an essential part of the services we provide our youth, as it gives them more choices to finding a brighter tomorrow,” says Michael Thornton, President & CEO, AMIkids Inc. “This grant will allow us to expand these services and reach even more at-risk youth in the Tampa Bay market.”

For more information, or if someone is interested in applying to the program, please contact the appropriate Executive Director in your home county:

Pinellas County: Pinellas-ED@amikids.org

Hillsborough County: Tampa-ED@amikids.org

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About AMIkids: 

AMIkids is a national nonprofit organization that serves at-risk youth with 44 local programs in nine states throughout the country. Since 1969, AMIkids has empowered more than 140,000 boys and girls from across the nation, helping to transform their lives and guide them towards a bright future. For more information, visit: AMIkids.org.