Kansas Office of Apprenticeship briefs Leavenworth County on registered apprenticeship expansion

Shonda Anderson, director of the Office of Apprenticeship at the Kansas Department of Commerce, told the Leavenworth County Board of Commissioners that registered apprenticeship programs are operating in many local sectors and that the county currently has at least 300 residents enrolled in registered apprenticeships.

Anderson gave an overview of registered apprenticeship — emphasizing that it is “a job day 1” with a paid, W‑2 position alongside structured on‑the‑job training, job‑related classroom education, mentorship and wage progression. She said apprenticeships exist in sectors directly relevant to county workforce needs, including public works (water and infrastructure), corrections (training at Lansing Correctional Facility and Fort Leavenworth facilities), manufacturing, health care, education (paraeducator-to-teacher pathways), and information technology.

Anderson said Kansas has increased apprenticeship growth under recent state efforts: the state has moved from 47th to 29th in new apprentice numbers, has brought in about $12 million in federal funding, and has set aside roughly $13 million in tax incentives and grants for businesses and $14 million for community colleges to support apprenticeship programs. She said youth registered apprenticeship rules have been clarified at the state level, and that a letter from the Kansas insurance commissioner’s office allows certain 16‑ and 17‑year‑old apprentices to perform some tasks in hazardous occupations when enrolled in a registered program.

Local examples Anderson cited included partnerships between Kansas City Kansas Community College and area manufacturers, a CDL and welder program connected to Lansing Correctional Facility, and apprenticeship activity at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks and Joint Regional Correctional Facility on Fort Leavenworth. Anderson also said manufacturers such as the Panasonic battery plant have begun work on registered apprenticeship pathways in partnership with local community colleges.

Commissioners asked several follow‑up questions. When asked about age ranges, Anderson said the youngest registered apprentice in the state is 16 and the oldest is 72, and she estimated the average apprentice in Leavenworth County to be between 20 and 30 years old. On serving people with disabilities, Anderson noted that multi‑employer intermediaries and organizations such as Down Syndrome Innovations operate apprenticeship programs tailored to people with disabilities. She said local governments, school districts and associations can act as multi‑employer intermediaries or sponsors to deploy apprenticeships for public works, utilities, police, fire and other municipal functions.

Anderson invited county officials to join regular “dinner bell” convening calls (first Wednesday of every month) and offered the office’s assistance with program development, funding information, and partner connections.

Ending: Commissioners thanked Anderson for the presentation and said they would consider apprenticeship strategies (including youth apprenticeships and municipal apprenticeship sponsorships) as part of workforce planning and discussions with local school partners and economic-development stakeholders.