Sinclair Receives Grant to Expand Number of Apprentices in the Dayton Region

Project will help provide pathways for students to meet in-demand jobs

DAYTON, OH – Sinclair Community College received $140,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to support an initiative that will expand the number of skilled workers and apprentices available in the Dayton region. The Expanding Community College Apprenticeships (ECCA) Initiative was developed by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. Sinclair will collaborate with Rhodes State and North Central State College community colleges on the multi-site consortium project and will work on training a combined 450 apprentices by January 31, 2022. 

“Apprenticeship programs are critical to moving our local and national economies forward,” said Dr. Steven Johnson, President of Sinclair Community College. “Employers are talking about a lack of skilled workers and apprenticeship programs are vital to many of our region’s economic development efforts. We look forward to working with other community colleges in the nation to create more student apprenticeship programs that will lead to well-paying jobs and build the pipeline of workers that employers need.”

Apprenticeship programs are different from other work-based learning programs because they include paid, on-the-job learning opportunities combined with classroom learning. Students also receive an industry-recognized credential upon completion.

Sinclair's Registered Apprenticeship Program, approved by ApprenticeOhio, was officially launched in the 2018 Spring Semester.  The college is one of only ten Ohio community colleges to be awarded a U.S. Department of Labor Grant through ApprenticeOhio, allowing the opportunity to offer an apprenticeship program managed by a community college.  

The apprenticeship program launched began in Spring of 2018 with only six apprentices. Today, the program has forty-six apprentices. Although employer sponsorship is not required, Sinclair’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs are all employer sponsored. Employers that Sinclair has partnered with spend between $900-1100 a semester on their apprentices to cover cost for tuition, textbooks and other fees.

Sinclair’s Apprenticeship Program certifications are also embedded within Associate’s Degrees so students are set on a career-pathway that will help them get their degree faster and at an affordable cost.

Registered Apprenticeship Programs offered at Sinclair, include training in Electrical Maintenance, Mechanical Maintenance, HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Condition) Install/Service, Machinist and Cyber Security. Employers that students work with include, Dmax, Crane1, Waibel Energy Systems, Enviro Control, SONOCO and Clippard.

Sinclair currently works with over 800 employers to provide students internship and work-based learning opportunities that lead to in-demand jobs. Nearly 75% of Sinclair’s degree programs require or strongly encourage field experiences.

Sinclair is recognized as a local and national leader in delivering high quality and affordable higher education. One of the oldest and best-known community colleges in the nation, Sinclair was founded in 1887 by David A. Sinclair and is a board member of the prestigious League for Innovation in the Community College. Sinclair offers more than 260 accredited degrees and certificates. For more information, contact Deena John at 937-272-8208 or deena.john@sinclair.edu

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