HAVE YOU EVER been worried and unable to sleep? Well, that’s how I was this past Saturday morning. The coming week—this week—is National Apprenticeship Week, and there are many, many things going on in the Apprenticely world that need to go right.

You’ll be hearing a lot about Registered Apprenticeships this week—in this newsletter, on our website, and from many of our partners, such as the Office of Skills Development.  We hope you’ll check out the schedule of events and webinars—click here —and will join us in the festivities. 

As we celebrate the expansion of apprenticeships in Arkansas, we know we’ve just cracked the surface.  We have employers in key industry sectors that still need more skilled talent to maintain and grow their businesses.  They will find these skilled workers, and we all would like for them to be Arkansans. Apprenticely can help close the skills gap between employer demand and available talent by, first, making Arkansans aware of these opportunities—many people in our state want better jobs and more fulfilling careers.  And, second, by providing the training that arms these Arkansans with the skills and competencies that the employers require. 

There’s a lot of good news to share on this front. Be sure to read National Apprenticeship Director Lonnie Emard’s Q & A in this issue of the Apprenticely newsletter, and click here to read about the State of Arkansas’ significant investment in apprenticeships through the HIRED Grants that were announced just this past week.

Which brings me back to the thoughts I woke with last Saturday. As an old song goes, “If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep….” Thanks to all of you for your continued support.  Let us hear your suggestions.

–Bill Yoder
Executive Director