– Increase access to quality jobs with a living wage
Hire Up Harris (Ongoing)
Hire Up Harris is a workforce development initiative dedicated to supporting residents of Harris County by connecting them to training opportunities for high-quality jobs that pay a living wage, provide benefits, and have the potential for further economic advancement. Harris County prioritizes programming that couples skills training with soft skills development and wraparound support services to best assist underemployed and unemployed individuals. Further, Harris County aims to build capacity among organizations that provide workforce training via evaluation efforts to instill best practices that will result in transformational outcomes.
Hire Up Harris is administered by two subrecipient vendors, Wesley Community Center and Volunteers of America Texas. This ARPA-funded program began in the spring of 2023 and will allow up to 700 Harris County residents to enroll in training.
Please go to ARPA Workforce Program page for details.
Apprenticeship Advantage (Ongoing)
Apprenticeship Advantage promotes the apprenticeship model of workforce development, which includes on-the-job training and early job placement in partnership with employers. Program goals include creating and expanding opportunities for U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in traditional and high-growth emerging industries within Harris County. Apprenticeship Advantage develops the Harris County workforce while fostering access to apprenticeship opportunities for underemployed and unemployed residents, dislocated workers, opportunity youth, people of color, women, and those without college degrees. This program responds to the COVID-19 public health emergency’s economic impact on Harris County workers, including disproportionate challenges for those without living wage jobs.
Complementing training opportunities, wraparound support services included in the program increase apprenticeship retention, completion, and job placement rates. The program includes apprenticeships for in-demand technical skills, supports the energy transition with green jobs such as low-emission vehicle repair, and features the first-ever International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) apprenticeship for sports and entertainment sector employees.
Apprenticeship Advantage is administered by two subrecipient vendors, the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation and NPower. The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation will provide pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training across ten union trades and NPower will provide apprenticeship training and job placement in digital skills careers, including cybersecurity. The program began early 2023 and will allow up to 966 Harris County residents to enroll in apprenticeship.
Please go to ARPA Workforce Program page for details.