AAPA ACCELerate Apprenticeship Program Ranks #1 in Grantee Performance by U.S. Department of Labor

AAPA has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship as a top performing grantee of the “Apprenticeships: Closing the Skills Gap” (CSG) grant program in the ‘Total Participants that Began Education/Job Training Activities” category.

As part of the CSG initiative, AAPA was awarded $5.8 million in March 2020. AAPA launched “ACCELerate”, a program designed for ports and other freight-related employers to expand apprenticeship opportunities in America’s multimodal transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL)-connected industries.

Since its inception, ACCELerate has created over 1,000 apprenticeship opportunities with more than 51 companies for skilled trade and advanced manufacturing, transportation, cybersecurity, technology, energy/utility, and supervisory and engineering-related occupations.

“The American Association of Port Authorities considers apprenticeship to be a vital tool in closing the skills gap and meeting the workforce needs of the maritime and supply chain industry,” said AAPA President and CEO Chris Connor.

AAPA’s ACCELerate program can deliver critical technical assistance to our members, including developing workplace learning plans and related education, building partnerships with key stakeholders, providing mentor training, customizing marketing and outreach materials, and more.

Is your port or organization interested in growing its workforce and developing a new or expanding an existing apprenticeship program? ACCELerate can help by identifying, accessing and leveraging several sources of funding that can be used for program development, expansion, and administration.

For more information on how AAPA can support your apprenticeship efforts contact:

Shannon McLeod, AAPA’s Director, Professional and Workforce Development | Phone: (703) 706-4707 | Email: smcleod@aapa-ports.org; or 

Barbara Murray, AAPA’s ACCELerate Executive Director | Phone: (757) 401-8259 | Email: brmurray.accelerate@aapa-ports.org.

 
Photo tagline: AAPA hosted a two-day apprenticeship industry education event including a tour of the Port of Virginia’s Norfolk International Terminals.