Nevada secures $1.54 million federal grant to expand career apprenticeships through FORGE Nevada initiative

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The Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner has received a grant of over $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities and establish new career pathways across Nevada’s highest-demand industries.

Awarded through the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Grant, the funding enables the Nevada State Apprenticeship Council, in partnership with Northern Nevada workforce development board Nevadaworks, to launch FORGE Nevada—Future Opportunities through Registered Apprenticeships, Growth and Education.

The initiative aims to expand apprenticeship access beyond traditional trades while helping employers develop a skilled talent pipeline.

“Registered apprenticeships provide Nevadans with a proven pathway to a rewarding career while allowing employers to develop the skilled workforce they need,” said State Apprenticeship Director Toni Giddens. “FORGE Nevada takes that model a step further by bringing together state government, workforce development partners and industry to create apprenticeship opportunities in fields where Nevada’s economy is growing.”

Expanding pathways in high-demand sectors

FORGE Nevada will focus on non-traditional roles across five targeted growth industries: advanced manufacturing, domestic mineral production, education, hospitality, and information technology.

Project targets for the initiative include:

  • Increasing the total number of registered apprentices in Nevada by 225;
  • Supporting 300 pre-apprentices and apprentices;
  • Developing three new pre-apprenticeship programs; and
  • Establishing three new Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

The programs are designed to provide Nevadans with accessible pathways to earn industry-recognized credentials and gain hands-on experience.

Intermediary sponsorship model

In a traditional Registered Apprenticeship Program, individual employers serve as program sponsors. FORGE Nevada introduces an intermediary entity to serve as the overarching sponsor, marking a first-of-its-kind model for the state.

The intermediary model reduces administrative burdens for employers that may lack the internal resources or capacity to manage an apprenticeship program independently.

“FORGE Nevada gives us the opportunity to build on apprenticeship infrastructure that is already producing results,” said Milt Stewart, CEO of Nevadaworks. “Nevadaworks will help employers develop and administer apprenticeship programs, connect people to those opportunities, and provide the navigation and support that help apprentices succeed. The goal is to make apprenticeship easier for employers to use and more accessible to Nevadans.”

The Office of the Labor Commissioner and its partners will collaborate with employers, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders statewide to identify and launch the new programs.