Introduction

SF Receives $568,860 in Funding to Expand Registered Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship Programs

SF Receives $568,860 in Funding to Expand Registered Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship Programs

April 13, 2022 – Santa Fe College has received $568,860 in state funding to expand the college’s registered apprenticeship programs. The funding comes from the Department of Educations’ Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship (ERAP) Grant – a grant designed to offer public post-secondary organizations grant funds to start or expand registered apprenticeship and/or programs that partner with small businesses.

Registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship training programs are a key component of Florida’s workforce education ecosystem. These programs secure the best, most qualified workforce for Florida’s industries; they also provide students the ability to acquire advanced skills and knowledge so they can find meaningful work and accelerate in and enjoy productive careers.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Florida Department of Education to get the funding needed to expand our programs,” said Dr. Tyran Butler, SF’s Associate Vice President for Career and Technical Education. “It’s important to us to continue paving the way for students to receive hands-on training that will better prepare them for their future careers.”

The grant will help Santa Fe College expand existing apprenticeship programs in Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing and Carpentry, and enable SF to add a new two-year program in Building Maintenance. The college will be accepting new apprenticeship applications June 1.

Santa Fe College plumbing students work to take apart a series of pipes during a class project. (Photo by Matt Stamey/Santa Fe College)

“Florida has never seen a governor make so many strategic investments in workforce education that provide students with numerous opportunities to start and grow their careers, and businesses with such a large pool of highly qualified and talented individuals,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “This funding provides critical opportunities to grow Florida’s highly-skilled workforce and I am thankful for Governor DeSantis’ continued leadership to make Florida number one in the nation for workforce education.”

The ERAP Concept Pitch was designed to allow interested public post-secondary education agencies an opportunity to request ERAP funding by showcasing their existing programs and how they could be expanded with additional resources or by starting new high demand and middle to high wage apprenticeship or programs. The ERAP Grant awarded $10.5 million in funding, supporting 11 colleges across Florida. Read more about the announcement here.

For more information about Santa Fe College apprenticeship programs, call SF’s Apprenticeship Coordinator, Justin Macdougall at 352-395-5251. For more information about Apprenticeships or Preapprenticeships, visit ApprenticeFlorida.com.