Work force development funding opportunities

The following funds can be used for training and workforce development:

•Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT)/SkillsCommons Access to Telecommunications Curricula program

https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/resources/federal/federal-funding/department-labor-trade-adjustment-assistance-community-college

•Investments in Apprenticeship to Support the Telecommunications Workforce    

  Program Website: www.apprenticeship.gov (Department of Labor’s website) The Wireless Infrastructure Association represents the companies that make up the wireless infrastructure ecosystem in the United States. Its members are the businesses that develop, build, own and operate that nation’s wireless infrastructure. WIA member companies include wireless carriers, infrastructure providers, and professional services firms that collectively own and operate more than 135,000 telecommunications facilities around the globe. https://wia.org/ Built by and for telecommunications employers, TIRAP is a competency-based apprenticeship aimed at growing the productivity of the workforce as directly as possible. TIRAP defines career paths in a growing number of critical occupations, including tower technicians, wireless technicians, and utilities workers, along with leads and foremen. By establishing on-the-job training as well as classroom learning, these apprenticeships help you onboard and upskill your workers. This leads to better efficiency and safety —plus higher employee engagement and retention.https://www.tirap.org/

•Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) 

Program Website: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wioa Federal Funding Site: Department of Labor - Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) 

•Investments in Apprenticeship to Support the Telecommunications Workforce 

Program Website: www.apprenticeship.gov(Department of Labor’s website) The Wireless Infrastructure Association represents the companies that make up the wireless infrastructure ecosystem in the United States. Its members are the businesses that develop, build, own and operate that nation’s wireless infrastructure. WIA member companies include wireless carriers, infrastructure providers, and professional services firms that collectively own and operate more than 135,000 telecommunications facilities around the globe. https://wia.org/ Built by and for telecommunications employers, TIRAP is a competency-based apprenticeship aimed at growing the productivity of the workforce as directly as possible. TIRAP defines career paths in a growing number of critical occupations, including tower technicians, wireless technicians, and utilities workers, along with leads and foremen. By establishing on-the-job training as well as classroom learning, these apprenticeships help you onboard and upskill your workers. This leads to better efficiency and safety —plus higher employee engagement and retention. https://www.tirap.org/ 

WIA and Corning to Launch Pre-apprenticeship Program for Fiber Optic Careers Development  

This program offers broadband certification for more information please see:

Workforce development and technician certification with the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association offers classes and certification for broadband technicians in several areas around the United States. These certifications fufill some obligations required for many grants.
The classes cover the following topics:

• Applications and Advantages of Fiber
• Fiber Theory, Types, Geometry
• Safety and tools
• Cables and Cable Structures
• Architectures & Topologies
• Connectors, Splicing, and Splitters
• Cable and Fiber Management
• Test Equipment and Testing
• Outdoor and Premise Installation
Overview
• Systems Overview
• Optical Network Terminals
• Troubleshooting

For more information on hosting classes near you please see the presentation or visit https://www.fiberbroadband.org

Workforce Development

Connectivity presents economic opportunities both online and in person via broadband maintenance and installation.

Here you can find a Council of Economic Advisers issue brief on The digital divide and economic benefits of broadband access.

The Tribal Employment Database works with companies who are specifically looking to hire Native Americans. You can also make job postings. For more information, click here.

This video gives details on the IT workforce used while building and maintaining an ISP.

To access the site referenced in the video, click here.