St. Louis has been selected as one of nine sites nationwide for a new Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative aimed at helping high school students enter skilled-trades careers through apprenticeships and technical training.
The Opportunity Trust announced it will receive $8 million over three years to expand its Next Prep program, which connects students with career training in fields including electrical work, carpentry, construction, HVAC, welding and advanced manufacturing.
The program is scheduled to launch this fall with 40 students and is expected to grow to serve 100 students annually by 2029.
Participating students will receive technical training, industry credentials and exposure to apprenticeship opportunities while still in high school. Funding also will support transportation, career coaching and work-based learning experiences.
The initiative comes as employers continue to report shortages of skilled-trades workers. Missouri is projected to have thousands of annual openings in occupations such as carpentry, electrical work and plumbing, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.
Riley Foster, director of Next Prep, said the program is designed to combine classroom instruction with hands-on experience that allows students to explore careers before graduating from high school.
“That is why we are leaning so heavily into apprenticeships and earn-and-learn opportunities,” Foster said.
Foster said the initiative is intended to connect students directly to skilled-trades careers through apprenticeships and other work-based learning experiences.
The Opportunity Trust will lead the effort through a coalition of more than 40 employers, labor organizations, schools and community partners. Participating schools include Gateway Science Academy, Kairos Academies and University City High School.
Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the $90 million national initiative June 9. In addition to St. Louis, the program will operate in eight other communities across the country.