Apprenticeship Office Awarded Funding to Expand Youth Opportunities

The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship today announced it has been selected as one of 10 states to receive the prestigious Talent Ready funding through CareerWise and the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center. This highly competitive national recognition puts Kansas at the forefront of building the next generation of workforce through innovative youth apprenticeship opportunities for young Kansans starting as early as 16 years of age.

“Kansas is growing its youth apprenticeship pipeline to connect our young Kansans to high-demand careers while still working towards their degrees,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This national recognition reflects the strength of our vision and our commitment to opening doors for students across Kansas and into a wide range of industries.”

The $200,000 award provides Kansas with resources and national partnerships needed to expand youth registered apprenticeship opportunities, particularly with high school students — by aligning programs with Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. These initiatives enable students to learn, gain industry specific credentials and experience, and prepare them to step into high-demand careers.

This initiative gives Kansas the ability to:

Expand youth apprenticeship opportunities across key industries
Build alignment between apprenticeship programs and CTE coursework
Increase employer engagement in building sustainable talent pipelines
Create scalable systems that connect education to workforce

Kansas has demonstrated national leadership in apprenticeship innovation, including its goal of reaching 10,001 active apprenticeships by 2031. The new funding opportunity will further reinforce the commitment to building a future-ready workforce and ensuring students have access to high-quality, work-based learning experiences and long-term career success.

As part of the national cohort, Kansas will collaborate with leading workforce and education organizations, gaining access to best-in-class technical assistance, strategic guidance and proven frameworks to scale apprenticeship systems across the state.

“This milestone is more than funding — it’s about building a system that works for students, employers and the Kansas economy,” Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship Director Shonda Anderson said. “We’re committed to building real pathways and partnerships that create career opportunities for future generations.”

Employers are a crucial part in building the workforce of the future. To learn more about how to get involved or start a youth apprenticeship program, visit here.

Kansas recently celebrated National Apprenticeship Week, using its platform to discuss the success and future opportunities of building youth registered apprenticeship programs in Kansas. To view photos from the 2026 Kansas Apprenticeship Awards, visit here.

For additional information about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, visit here.