News Mississippi
Senator Hyde-Smith announces $3.45 million to expand apprenticeship program
By Bailey Martin
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today announced a $3.45 million federal grant to expand the Mississippi Apprenticeship Program (MAP), an initiative that since 2016 has helped provide Mississippians with skills to find careers in today’s labor market.
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) received a $3.0 million grant as one of 12 states to receive Tier II Registered Apprenticeship Program funding, on top of a $450,000 Tier I base grant given to all 42 states that applied for the funding.
“The Mississippi Apprenticeship Program has been innovative in providing more people with skill-development opportunities that improve their career paths and meet the needs of various industries,” said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
“The fact we received Tier II funding is a recognition of how well the program is working and its potential to grow, which is important during the current economic downturn,” she said.
The U.S. Department of Labor funding will permit MDES to continue to build MAP, which has developed eight new registered apprenticeship programs, involving 202 businesses and 1,263 registered apprentices. In its 2019 annual report, MDES also indicated that MAP is growing to involve new industry sectors, including finance and banking, hospitality and tourism, and information technology.