Apprenticeship Colorado in the Office of the Future of Work (OFW) is dedicated to shaping an equitable economy of the future and ensuring that Coloradans are equipped with the necessary education, training, skills, and tools to fully participate in the labor force. Learn more about Apprenticeship Colorado and apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship Colorado administers various funding strategies to accelerate and diversify the Registered Apprenticeship system in Colorado by offering funds for employers and career seekers. Learn more about each and sign up for updates below!
Funding for Employers & Sponsors
- State ScaleUp Grants (Open)
Apprenticeship Colorado at the Office of the Future of Work is now accepting applications for State ScaleUp Grants. State ScaleUp Grants are competitive awards of up to but not meeting or exceeding $50,000 that support organizations to develop or expand a Registered Apprenticeship Program. The opportunity funds capacity-building projects for current and future Registered Apprenticeship Program employers and Sponsors. The deadline to apply is May 21, 2025 at 11:59 pm MST.
Read the full description of the opportunity here.
Objectives
Eligible applicants may apply to either:
- Develop a new Registered Apprenticeship Program(s)
- Expand an existing Registered Apprenticeship Program(s) in one or more of the following ways:
- Adding new occupations
- Adding new employers
- Expanding to new service areas
- Adding additional apprentices
Eligibility
Entities that are eligible to apply for State ScaleUp Funds include employers and Sponsors that:
- Plan to develop and register a new Registered Apprenticeship Program or
- Currently offer a Registered Apprenticeship program and plan to expand it
In addition to the requirements above, all applications must demonstrate the following in their application to be considered for funding:
- Ability and intent to employ apprentices within the state of Colorado
- Ability and intent to hire apprentices as W2 employees
- Commitment to enroll at least one apprentice within 12 months of the start of the period of performance
- A complete application that includes all required attachments and all expenses are allowable
Virtual Information Session
A virtual informational session was held on April 29, 2025 from 9:00 am - 10:00 am MST via Zoom to allow prospective applicants the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to this grant opportunity.
Application
To apply, please:
- Review the Request for Applications in its entirety
- Complete the Pre-Application Checklist
- Complete the online State ScaleUp Grant application using the link below
Application for State ScaleUp Grants
Resources
Questions
Applicants should review the Request for Applications and Question and Answer Document before submitting a question to Apprenticeship Colorado.
Still have a question? Questions should be sent to Elizabeth.Sullivan@state.co.us with “RFA State ScaleUp” in the subject line. All questions regarding this funding opportunity will be accepted and answered via email, and then posted in the Question and Answer Document.
No questions will be accepted after May 2, 2025 and all answers to all questions submitted via email will be posted by May 6, 2025.
- New and Emerging Industry Apprenticeship Tax Credit (Open)
- BuildUp Grants (Closed)
BuildUp Grants Round 2: Opportunity Closed
BuildUp Grants are competitive awards that support Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) to increase access for target populations in the Building and Construction Trades by providing training at no cost to apprentices. The opportunity funds the training costs so that the apprenticeship is provided at no cost to the apprentice throughout the entirety of their program and/or provide supportive services to apprentices to support recruitment and retention and/or outreach to target populations in order to increase enrollment.
BuildUp Grants Round 2 are now closed for applications. All applicants will be notified in early October 2024 regarding the status of their application. Thank you for your interest in expanding apprenticeship in the state of Colorado.
Sign-up for Funding Opportunity Announcements
BuildUp Grants Round 1
Apprenticeship Colorado is pleased to announce the award of $783,815.21 to 6 entities in May of 2024 in BuildUp Grants Round 1. Organizations funded through the BuildUp Grants Round 1 are:
- Blue Mountain Mechanical
- Construction Education Foundation of Colorado
- Fortified Academy
- Haynes Mechanical Systems
- Independent Plumbing Solutions
- LONG Building Technologies
- Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grants (Closed)
The application period for the Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grants is closed.
The Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grants are competitive awards up to $100,000 to provide capacity building support for organizations that have been officially recognized by the State Apprenticeship Agency as Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediaries.
Entities eligible to apply for the Qualified Apprenticeship Grants are the 34 Recognized Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediaries.
To receive updates regarding future funding opportunities from Apprenticeship Colorado, please sign up for our mailing list by selecting “Funding Opportunities”.
- Lineworker Apprenticeship Grants (Closed)
Lineworker Apprenticeship Grants are competitive awards that assist existing Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in the Transmission or Distribution Lineworker Trades, absorb costs associated with career training, and help more people obtain and retain employment in the sector.
Lineworker Apprenticeship Grants are now closed for applications. All applicants will be notified in early February 2025 regarding the status of their application. Thank you for your interest in expanding apprenticeship in the state of Colorado.
- Other Funding for Employers
The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) offers various funding opportunities for employers, job seekers, and Sponsors for registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning models.
Funding for Career Seekers & Apprentices
Apprenticeship programs may be free or have associated tuition, fees, supplies, or other training materials. Career seekers and apprentices may find many resources available to support associated costs through local workforce centers, education partners, and apprenticeship intermediaries. Incentives, scholarships, and grants offered to apprentices by Registered Apprenticeship Programs are also listed on the Apprenticeship Directory under the program's directory profile listing.
- Local Workforce Center Support
Apprentices may qualify for funding through their local workforce center depending on if they meet eligibility requirements. The local workforce center may be able to offer supportive services, cover costs for related instruction, and other support. Contact the workforce center near you for more information.
- National Apprentice Fund
The National Apprentice Fund will provide one-time financial assistance to Registered Apprentices across the U.S. who are apprenticing in new and emerging industries and may face barriers to completing their training.
The Fund is managed by Jobs for the Future (JFF). Organizations are encouraged to refer eligible apprentices to the National Apprentice Fund. If you represent an employer, a community-based organization, or another Registered Apprenticeship provider or program partner, please use this link to refer individuals who may be interested.
- Opportunity Next Colorado
Opportunity Next is a resource tailored specifically for Colorado's Class of 2024, this program provides scholarships through registered apprenticeships and eligible training providers, free advising and coaching, and resources to help students navigate their next step.
Visit OpportunityNext.org to find eligible scholarship programs and access:
- Free personalized education and career coaching in partnership with InsideTrack
- Career pathfinder tool on the eight in-demand industries in Colorado
- Free expert financial aid counseling in partnership with uAspire
Check out the Opportunity Next promotional toolkit for student resources to help spread the word about the scholarship program!
Other Apprenticeship Funding
- Tax Credits and Incentives
The state of Colorado and its partners offers various tax credits and incentives related to apprenticeship. Note that Apprenticeship Colorado does not administer these tax credits or incentives listed below.
- The Opportunity Now Tax Credit, is a refundable tax credit that provides financial assistance for facility improvements and/or equipment acquisition costs associated with training programs designed to alleviate workforce shortages linked to IIJA, IRA and CHIPS. Questions? Email Marie.Pecoraro@state.co.us.
- A CollegeInvest 529 Savings Plan is a tax-free educational savings account that can be used to pay for apprenticeships. For Colorado taxpayers, contributions to any CollegeInvest savings account are eligible for a deduction from your state income tax return.
- The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit that incentivizes employers for hiring within targeted groups of job seekers. The WOTC can reduce employer federal tax liability by as much as $9600, when you hire talented, skilled, hard-to-place job seekers. Read the WOTC Quick Reference Guide.
- The Enterprise Zone Job Training Tax Credit helps businesses develop and retain a skilled workforce. Businesses located within enterprise zones can earn a state income tax credit of 12% of eligible job training costs for employees and apprentices working within the enterprise zone.
- The Career Development Incentive Program (CDIP) provides financial incentives for school districts and charter schools that encourage high school students, grades 9-12, to complete qualified industry credential programs, including registered apprenticeships and quality pre-apprenticeships.
- Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Tax Incentive includes bonus credits for businesses that pay workers a prevailing wage and use Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
- The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Standards and Requirements requires that all electricians installing, operating, or maintaining EV supply equipment have a certification from the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or graduation or a continuing education certificate from a Registered Apprenticeship Program. Additionally, for projects that require more than one electrician, at least one electrician must be enrolled in an electrical Registered Apprenticeship Program.
- The Federal Bonding Program is a 6-month no cost fidelity bond for applicants who are denied coverage by commercial carriers due to their at risk background. A fidelity bond is provided to the employer free of charge and serves as an incentive to hire a job applicant who is an ex-offender or has an at-risk background in obtaining employment.