Applications are open for the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center (“The Center”)! Be part of a national hub supporting states to strengthen and scale Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for youth ages 16–24.

Designated by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), and led by CareerWise as the national intermediary, The Center brings proven practice, policy expertise, and funding together to help states build apprenticeship systems that last.

Apply Here

What The Center Is (and Is Not)

The Center is a funded opportunity for a select, national consortium of states.

It helps states build the infrastructure, partnerships, and policies that allow high-quality programs to grow. 

While The Center does not run apprenticeship programs, it does partner with a selected number of states to:

• Promote statewide plans to expand access to high-quality youth apprenticeship
• Support states in building and implementing sustainable apprenticeship systems
• Advance research, best practices, and policy innovation
• Strengthen alignment across education, workforce, and industry systems
• Address system-level and policy barriers that limit scale

What Participating States Receive:

Funding. Expertise. A national peer network. 

States selected to join The Center receive:

• Customized consulting and resources to support development and implementation of a state plan for scaling pathways to registered apprenticeship opportunities for youth
• Peer-to-peer networking among consortium states to enhance strategies for building apprenticeship-ready schools and advancing sector engagement
• In-person and virtual convenings for consortium states to share lessons learned, challenges, and best practices
• Employer summits to enlist business support in building robust apprenticeship systems for youth
• $200,000 per state to support participation as a consortium state toward building access to registered opportunities for young people

Apply Here

Why This Matters Now

Across the country, employers in healthcare, technology, advanced manufacturing, education, and other high-demand industries need skilled talent. At the same time, too many young people leave high school or early jobs without a clear path to a family-sustaining career.

Registered Apprenticeship bridges this gap. When states build strong apprenticeship systems:

• Young people gain real skills and real wages
• Employers develop the talent they need to grow
• Communities retain talent and build long-term economic strength

The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center is launching at a moment when states are under pressure to deliver results and exists to help states make this transformation real. ​ 

Who Should Apply

All U.S. states and territories at all stages of youth apprenticeship development are eligible to apply, including those currently focused on pre-apprenticeship.

Apply Here

What Participation Requires

Participation in The Center is designed for states ready to lead system-level change. While there is no cost to participate, states receive funding and are expected to commit staff time and leadership capacity.

Other requirements include:

• Designating a core project team of 4–6 leaders representing education, workforce, industry, and apprenticeship systems
• Developing and sustaining a broader cross-sector state coalition
• Developing, implementing, and refining a statewide plan to expand youth access to Registered Apprenticeships
• Commitment of staff time and leadership capacity to participate throughout the program period (June 2026–December 2028) which includes participating in required consulting sessions, peer learning, convenings, and evaluation activities

Applications Are Open To Join the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center!

Bring $200,000 and national expertise to your state.

Applications must be submitted through the online application form.

What states will need to apply:

• One designated lead applicant agency or organization
• A core project team of 4–6 leaders with decision-making authority, representing apprenticeship, education (K–12, CTE, postsecondary), and industry/business
• Commitment to engage a broader state coalition (e.g., workforce boards, employers, education providers, CBOs, industry associations, labor)
• Completion of all required application sections, including:
  • The state’s need for The Center and why this is the right time
  • A vision for expanding youth access to Registered Apprenticeship
  • Strategies for partner engagement and system alignment
  • A proposed budget and sustainability narrative for use of the $200,000 award
• A letter of support from the Governor or Lieutenant Governor

Apply Here

*You can view a PDF version of the Application here. (Please note: This worksheet is for reference and planning purposes only. All applications must be completed and submitted through the online application; responses submitted via this document will not be reviewed.)

Key Program and Application Details (FAQs)

• Program period: June 2026 – December 2028 (31 months)
• Who can apply?
  All U.S. states and territories are eligible. One application per state or territory will be accepted. Each applicant must designate a lead agency or organization responsible for submission, coordination, and fiscal management of the $200,000 state award. States at any stage of building systems to expand youth access to Registered Apprenticeship are encouraged to apply. Prior implementation at scale is not required.

• Do states need to meet minimum participation or performance targets?
  No. There are no required minimums for programs created, apprentices served, or employers engaged. The primary requirement is developing, implementing, and refining a comprehensive state plan for expanding youth access to Registered Apprenticeships.
  States will establish goals through the planning process and work toward them over time with support from The Center.

• Are states focused on pre-apprenticeship eligible?
  Yes. A focus on pre-apprenticeship does not disqualify a state. Pre-apprenticeship is often a critical component of connected pathways that lead into Registered Apprenticeship and can play a meaningful role in state systems development.
• Is there a cost to participate?
  No. Selected states receive $200,000 over the program period (June 2026–December 2028) to support participation and implementation. States are expected to commit staff time and leadership capacity to fully engage.
• Who leads The Center?
  The Center is led by CareerWise in partnership with national experts in apprenticeship, workforce policy, and education systems.

Read FAQs Here

Want to Learn More Before Applying?

Join CareerWise for one of two virtual information sessions and live Q&A about the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center.

Register HERE for the Info Sessions

This is your invitation to lead.

The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center is building a consortium of states that believe real careers create real opportunity, and real opportunity transforms everything.

If your state is ready to move from planning to action, from pilots to scale, and from good intentions to measurable impact, we invite you to express your interest by filling out the Interest Form linked below and someone from our team will be in touch soon.

Interest Form

The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center (The Center) is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor. The project is 100% funded by $12.5 million of federal funds. Of these funds, $8.8 million is sub-award to CareerWise, their partners, and a consortia of 10 states.

For questions or additional information, contact us at futurereadycenter@careerwiseusa.org.

Are you a strategic comms agency? We’re currently accepting proposals. Please review this RFP and see info to submit if interested.

View and download brand guidelines for The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center here.