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
- New and Emerging Industry Apprenticeship Tax Credit
- Scale-Up Grants
Scale-Up Grants: Spring 2025
The Office of the Future of Work and Apprenticeship Colorado anticipates launching the application for the Scale-Up Grants in Spring of 2025. ScaleUp Grants are competitive awards of up to $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.
Entities that are eligible to apply for 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
Cycle 2 Scale-Up Grants
Apprenticeship Colorado is pleased to announce the second cycle of Scale-Up Grants and the award of $699,670 to 14 organizations in June of 2023. Organizations funded through Cycle 2 of the Scale-Up Grants are:
- African American Trade Association
- Atom Physics
- City of Loveland
- Colorado Autism Consultants
- Colorado Energy Office
- Fortified Development, LLC
- Morgan County School District
- Mountain Roots
- RapidAscent Inc
- Reliance Electric
- Shaw Solar + Energy
- Skills Academy Vocational Center (NRAEF)
- The Center for Development of Economic Equity
TIC - The Industrial Company
Cycle 1 Scale-Up Grants
View a list of Cycle 1 Scale-Up Grant recipients.
- Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grants
The Office of the Future of Work and Apprenticeship Colorado anticipates launching the application for the Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grants in Spring/Summer 2025. The Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grants aim to provide capacity building support for organizations that have been officially recognized by the State Apprenticeship Agency as Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediaries.
Entities that are eligible to apply for the Qualified Apprenticeship Grants include the 34 Recognized Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediaries.
- BuildUp Grants
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
- Lineworker Apprenticeship Grants
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 Agricultural Workforce Development Program provides financial incentives to farms, ranches, and agricultural businesses to hire interns (interns can lead to apprentices!) and provide them with hands-on training needed to begin a career in agriculture. Learn more about the funding opportunity for businesses, which closes on Friday, November 1, 2024.
- 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.
- The Apprenticeship Scholarship
Registered apprenticeships are a great way to learn in-demand skills while also earning a paycheck. New qualifying apprentices may receive a scholarship that can be used for tuition, fees, tools, and other training materials. The scholarship is offered through your local workforce center in Colorado.
- Apprenticeship Scholarship Flyer
- Connect with a Navigator to Learn More About the Apprenticeship Scholarship
Please note, this scholarship is not affiliated with a higher education institution's federal, state or school financial aid package. For collegiate apprentices, please see your institution's financial aid representative for more information.
- 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.