Governor Kelly Announces Launch of MeadowLARK Grant Program to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities in Kansas

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship has launched the MeadowLARK — Leading Apprenticeship Results in Kansas — Initiative to expand the state’s Registered Apprenticeship opportunities further.

“MeadowLARK is an important tool that will be used to grow the state’s skilled workforce in rural and urban communities across multiple industries – further advancing Kansas’ economic growth,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By continuing to work together, we are fostering a brighter, more resilient, and more prosperous future for all who call the Sunflower State home.”

Funding for MeadowLARK was delivered through a State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, which provides targeted support to state Registered Apprenticeship Programs. A total of $6,331,847 was awarded to Kansas.

The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship will utilize these funds to continue revolutionizing apprenticeship in Kansas. MeadowLARK will also greatly expand the office’s efforts by developing Multi-Employer Intermediaries focusing on high-demand, high-wage occupations to meet industry needs.

“Since it was established last year, the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship is making huge strides to expand the highest quality earn-and-learn opportunities across our state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Through the MeadowLARK funding, the office will continue bringing together businesses, industries, labor, workforce boards, higher education systems, state departments, and other stakeholders, with one objective: Making Kansas a top 25 apprenticeship state by 2025.”

“MeadowLARK represents the latest and most significant opportunity for us to revolutionize how we develop and engage the workforce system and Multi-Employer Intermediaries,” Shonda Anderson, Director of Apprenticeship and Internship for the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, said. “With this model, we’re able to create easier pathways for businesses to grow their own workforce.”

In addition to modernization, MeadowLARK will invest nearly $5.7 million over the next three years to advance integration efforts with local Workforce Boards across Kansas and establish Statewide and Regional Multi-Employer Intermediaries.

The Statewide Multi-Employer Intermediaries include:

• K-12 Teacher Educator Registered Apprenticeship with the Kansas Department of Education
• Justice Involved Registered Apprenticeship with local Kansas WorkforceONE

Statewide Multi-Employer Intermediaries convene and ease the development of Registered Apprenticeship programs for specific employers.

“This Registered Apprenticeship program is a critical step toward addressing the teacher shortage here in Kansas,” Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson said. “These additional grant funds will help ease the financial hurdle many aspiring educators face on their way to earning a college degree and enable us to expand the program.”

Local Workforce Boards such as Kansas WorkforceONE will convene opportunities for populations with barriers to employment.

“Kansas WorkforceONE is excited about the opportunities that the MeadowLARK grant will provide us,” said Deb Scheibler, Executive Director at Kansas WorkforceONE. “We can use this to expand Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship opportunities across central and western Kansas for some of our most vulnerable populations.”

The Regional Multi-Employer Intermediaries include:

• Wichita-based health economy occupations, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging industries with Workforce Alliance
• Kansas City-based Youth Registered Apprenticeships with Workforce Partnerships
• Workforce occupations will work with Southeast KANSASWORKS

For more information about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, click here.