EVERGREEN - Today Governor Polis announced two new Response, Innovation, and Student Equity Education (RISE) Youth Apprenticeship Fund grant awards for the Cherry Creek School District and Colorado Restaurant Foundation, and celebrated the success of the program and its impacts on students and educators across the state. This round of RISE grants will invest in programs that expand youth-based apprenticeship opportunities and create more pathways for students to access the skills and experiences needed to begin their careers.
“We are connecting students to more opportunities and helping them build their skills that benefit their future, our communities, our businesses, and our economy overall. We want to help every Colorado learner fulfill their potential, and our innovative RISE grants are expanded pathways to success around the state,” said Governor Polis.
The Cherry Creek Innovation Campus and the pilot of its pre-apprenticeship project, supported through $210,000 in RISE grant funding, will focus on high-growth, high-need industries of Auto Repair, Construction, Healthcare, and Manufacturing to increase on-the-job learning for more CCSD students. This funding also supports teachers to embed in industry so they can share authentic examples and skills as a part of their classrooms. The pre-apprenticeship program will increase access to high quality programs, pathways, and careers for countless students as the district builds a pipeline of future talent.
The Colorado Restaurant Foundation supports restaurant workers and young people looking to enter the foodservice and hospitality industry through education and training. With the $201,080
RISE Youth Apprenticeship Grant, the Foundation will launch its Pre-Apprenticeship Bridge Program to link students in Colorado ProStart®, which teaches high school students to culinary and management skills while linking them with industry mentors and jobs, with Apprenticeship employers throughout Colorado.
Previous Youth Apprenticeship grantees include:
- CareerWise Colorado - $349,470
- Colorado River BOCES - $245,000
- Morgan County Economic Development Corporation - $280,000
- Neurodiversity Works - $245,000
- Poudre School District - $457,999
- St. Vrain Valley School District - $382,489
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