N.M. Delegation Welcomes $3 Million to Expand Access to Apprenticeships in High-Demand Careers
WASHINGTON —U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are welcoming $2,858,376 from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to expand access to apprenticeship opportunities, prepare more New Mexicans for quality jobs, and strengthen the local workforce.
Youth Development Inc. in Albuquerque will receive $1,500,000 and the Three Rivers Education Foundation in Farmington will receive $1,358,376.
“To really set the next generation up for success, we need to go all in on expanding access to training programs and apprenticeships as early as high school,” said Heinrich. “This investment will strengthen the pipeline for careers in New Mexico, address rising workforce shortages, and grow our state’s economy. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, it’s investments like these that I am proud to advocate for and deliver to our state.”
“As a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I’m proud to welcome nearly $3 million to two New Mexico organizations to create new opportunities for the next generation. Training, employment services, and apprenticeship opportunities for young New Mexicans will strengthen our workforce, fill in-demand jobs, and build a better future,” said Luján. “I look forward to these two organizations in Albuquerque and Farmington utilizing this funding to support our young people.”
“I am excited to welcome this almost $3 million investment to bolster New Mexico’s local workforce training programs. When we provide accessible pathways for all students, we help our enchanted economy grow,” said Leger Fernández. “I voted to pass this funding because I knew it would help the Biden Administration continue to invest in New Mexicans. This funding will be life-changing for many of my constituents, especially those in and around Farmington.”
"Apprenticeships are vital for young people to learn trades and land quality, good paying jobs," said Stansbury. "The $1.5 million in funding from the Department of Labor's YouthBuild Program will open doors for young people and provide all-around support, including the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing as part of their training. This is a huge win for New Mexico!"
"I'm committed to bringing more good-paying jobs to New Mexico and ensuring those who grow up here can work here—which starts with more apprenticeships and job training for young people. That's why I'm proud to welcome nearly $3 million to open doors for our youth and strengthen New Mexico's workforce for generations to come," said Vasquez.
This federal grant is funded by the YouthBuild Program, which supports pre-apprenticeships to educate and train young people, ages 16-24, who are neither enrolled in school or now in the labor market, for jobs in construction and other high-demand industries. This YouthBuild grant will help deliver education and training to enable participants to build or rehabilitate affordable housing.
YouthBuild participants will divide their time between classroom instruction – where they earn their high school diploma or equivalency degree – and workplace training to prepare for postsecondary occupations. The grant will also enable young people to train for careers in healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and logistics, culinary arts and hospitality.
For more information on this grant from the Department of Labor, click here.
Background
Heinrich has long championed efforts to expand access to apprenticeship and workforce training opportunities in New Mexico and nationwide.
In June 2023, Heinrich introduced the Apprenticeship Pathways Act, legislation to expand apprenticeship programs for high school students to address workforce shortages and build a workforce pipeline.
In March 2024, Heinrich introduced the Providing Resources and Opportunities for Health Education and Learning (PRO-HEAL) Act, legislation to expand pathways to high quality, in-demand health care careers that medical professionals can access in their home communities. The PRO-HEAL Act was inspired by the success of the Combined BA/MD Degree Program at the University of New Mexico, where over 65% of students who have graduated from the program practice medicine in New Mexico.
In February 2024, Heinrich introduced the Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats (PATH) Act, legislation to strengthen the pipeline for careers in New Mexico, address rising workforce shortages, and grow the state’s economy through quality pre-apprenticeship programs. Pre-apprenticeship programs would instruct participants on a variety of topics from basic literacy and math toworkforce-readiness skills, and can be tailored to the needs of students, employers, and local labor markets.
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