New Hampshire: State of the State

Apprentice OA Office Details

Lauren M. Smith, State Director (SD)
Wynn B. Young, Apprenticeship Training Representative (ATR)
Cleveland Federal Building
55 Pleasant Street, Room #3505
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 225-1444 • (603) 225-1446
smith.lauren.m@dol.gov • young.wynn.b@dol.gov

Key Initiatives

• Expand registered apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing, automotive technology; biomedical technology; business and finance; construction and infrastructure; hospitality, and information technology;
• Engage in systems-building initiatives that further the interests of expanding registered apprenticeships in targeted industries;
• Support the efforts of grantees leveraging apprenticeship models to meet the needs of NH’s employers;
• Advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility within the NH registered apprenticeship system; and
• Increase workforce development partnerships to leverage resources effectively.

FY 2021 End of Year Statistics

New Programs: 74

Active Programs: 388

New Occupations: 32

New Apprentices: 1142

Active Apprentices: 2747

Completed Apprentices: 673

Workforce Partnerships and Investments

Community College System of NH (CCSNH): In November of 2016, the Community College System of New Hampshire received a State Apprenticeship Expansion (SAE) grant to expand registered apprenticeships in NH.  Strategically aligned with the NH Sector Partnership, CCSNH has made a strong commitment to increase the number of apprentices in health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology, hospitality, and construction.  In 2018, CCSNH became a sub-recipient of the Expanding Community College Apprenticeship Grant (ECCA) focused on biotechnology, automotive technology, business, and finance.  In 2019, CCSNH received the Apprenticeship State Expansion grant to focus on pre-apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and registered apprenticeship models.  https://apprenticeshipnh.org/

New Hampshire Sector Partnerships Initiative (NH SPI): In February 2022, NH’s Sector Partnership lost funding from the State of NH.  Despite this loss, businesses within the targeted industries continue to work with key industry partners to identify and address their common workforce needs.  The planning team consists of community-based organizations, state and local agencies, education and training providers as well as the Office of Apprenticeship.  The Sector Partnership team leadership has applied for the Good Jobs Challenge to continue to expand opportunities to expand opportunities within these five industries: advanced manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, information technology, and construction. https://nhsectorpartners.org/about/

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Workforce Readiness Institute D-HWRI and Mary Hitchcock Hospital: One of New Hampshire’s largest and longest running apprenticeship programs received the H1B Rural Healthcare Grant to expand opportunities for healthcare apprenticeship in rural NH.  This grant also has a focus on behavioral and mental healthcare. https://dhwri.org

University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability, Building Futures Together: In 2020, Building Futures Together received the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) grant to prepare 98 paraprofessionals in healthcare and school settings to provide specialized enhanced care coordination to children, youth and their caregivers whose parents are impacted by opioid use disorders (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD).  https://iod.unh.edu/projects/building-futures-together

T.E.A.C.H. New Hampshire: The Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program is designed to recruit early childhood educators and connect them with apprenticeships that support investing in education while providing on-the-job experience.  https://www.snhs.org/services/early-childhood-apprenticeship-program

New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI): In 2021, NHLI received the 21st Century Out-of-School-Time Career Pathway Grant.  The focus of this grant is to expand access to career pathway opportunities and prepare students for careers in STEM-oriented fields.  The focus is for underserved populations in Conway, Hinsdale, Laconia, and Manchester school districts.  Student participants will complete an industry-recognized credential for remote work, STEM-related industry-recognized credentials, and complete paid internships/apprenticeships in an in-demand STEM-related occupation.  NHLI is also applying for a Gates Foundation Grant to develop a 13^th year of high school leading to an associate’s degree.  https://nhlearninginitiative.org/about-us/  May 25, 2021 Presentation to NH Coalition for Business and Education found here: http://www.nhcbe.org/wp-content/uploads/NH-Learning-Initiative.pdf

NH Sector Partnership Initiative (NHSPI): The NH Sector Partnerships Initiative, or NH SPI, is a collaborative, industry-led program that provides funding, training expertise and other resources to help companies within a growing industry sector collaborate on workforce development needs together. Employers connect with your industry colleagues to identify challenges, and SPI creates customized solutions, often by using state and federal funding sources and local educational resources, to train and upskill employees.  https://nhsectorpartners.org/

New Hampshire Coalition for Business and Education (NHCBE): The New Hampshire Coalition for Business and Education is a non-partisan organization composed of business, education, philanthropic and public policy leaders committed to improving the quality, access, and relevance of education for New Hampshire citizens of all ages.  http://www.nhcbe.org; Presentation listed here: http://www.nhcbe.org/presentations/

Recovery Friendly Workplace: NH Office of Apprenticeship has adopted a DEIA focus on the disability identified as Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in FY 2022.  We have partnered with many recovery centers through the UNH HRSA Grant and have added the resources of the NH Recovery Friendly Workforce Initiative to our partners in 2022.  Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFWs) support their communities by recognizing recovery from substance use disorder as a strength and by being willing to work intentionally with people in recovery.  RFWs encourage a healthy and safe environment where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by addiction.  In order to strengthen workplace culture, Recovery Friendly Advisors (RFAs) will support interested companies in finding evidence-based practices to meet their individualized needs. RFAs will help employers develop and sustain the RFW Initiative in the workplace.  https://www.recoveryfriendlyworkplace.com/initiative