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The Sponsor Snapshot
Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor Quarterly Newsletter
April 2024 Edition
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Apprenticeship Colorado is the State Apprenticeship Agency in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment that has the responsibility for:
- Registering and overseeing apprenticeship programs
- Providing technical assistance to current and prospective Sponsors
- Aligning the registered apprenticeship system with Colorado’s workforce, education, and economic development priorities
We also support employers, career seekers, and career services providers by connecting them to resources, information, local workforce centers, and other apprenticeship resources in Colorado.
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In this Edition of the Sponsor Snapshot:
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Sponsor Action Needed: Certified Contractor List
Apprenticeship Colorado is required in statute (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 40-3.2-105.5; 40-3.2-105.6; 40-42-107) to maintain a Certified Contractor List to verify contractors (Registered Apprenticeship Program employer partners) in applicable occupations for eligibility for certain contracts and rebates. The Certified Contractor List is a designation to verify employer participation in quality RAPs for eligibility to bid on state, electric utility, and gas DSM contracts and for certain energy rebates.
Sponsors that determine the Certified Contractor List applies to their occupations or employer partners are encouraged to submit the Certified Contractor List Form or contact their Quality Assurance Specialist.
The Certified Contractor List Form allows Sponsors to submit a list of their employer partners to Apprenticeship Colorado for the purposes of their employer partners being included in the Certified Contractor List. Please contact your assigned Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist for assistance, or email apprenticeship@state.co.us to be connected to the Quality Assurance Team.
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RAPIDS Tip
Adding Employers to RAPIDS
Multi-employer Sponsors are required to register each of their employer partners in RAPIDS, and have the option to add their employer partners individually or in bulk. Sponsors are required to upload a copy of their Employer Agreements by December 31, 2024. Sponsors may use the directions for adding employers provided for in section 4.12 Program Employers of the RAPIDS 2.0 Program Sponsor User Guide. Please contact your assigned Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist for assistance or email apprenticeship@state.co.us to be connected to the Quality Assurance Team.
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RAPIDS URL Change
- All of your existing RAPIDS data will be accessible via the new link once it goes live.
- If you use bookmarks in your browser to access the site, you will need to update those bookmarks with the new url or you will receive an error message after April 13.
- No changes are needed to your Login.gov username or password to access RAPIDS.
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Sponsor Revisions to Standards
Since Colorado became a State Apprenticeship Agency in July 2023, Sponsors are required to work with Apprenticeship Colorado’s Program Development (PD) team to update their Apprenticeship Standards to reflect state regulations and branding. Sponsors can choose to update their Appendices in addition to the required updates. To complete this action item, Sponsors may connect with their PD Specialist by emailing apprenticeship@state.co.us.
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Technical Assistance Events
Apprenticeship Colorado offers a variety of technical assistance opportunities and events to Sponsors to help programs successfully implement their Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Affirmative Action Plan Development
Are you a Sponsor with 5 or more apprentices? As part of your Equal Employment Opportunity responsibilities, you are required to have an Affirmative Action Plan - Appendix C (AAP). Sponsors registered before 7/1/2023 have until 7/1/2025 to complete their plan. Sponsors may complete the plan on their own, or use this interest form to indicate which type of support your RAP would be most interested in receiving:
- Self-guided tools and templates for developing your AAP
- A recorded, 90 minute webinar which walks you through the AAP building process
- One-on-one help with developing your AAP
- A six-week workshop where you can work with others to get your AAP completed
Monthly Sponsor Orientation
Are you a new Registered Apprenticeship Program Sponsor, or do you have staff members who could use a recap of all the need-to-know compliance requirements of RAPs in Colorado? If so, please join the QA Team at the next Monthly Sponsor Orientation on May 13, 2024 at 2:00 pm. The session will provide a detailed overview of basic requirements and information about other resources to support Sponsors. Orientation is open to existing Sponsors as well as new Sponsors.
Register for the Sponsor Orientation
RAPIDS 101 for Sponsors
Please join the Quality Assurance (QA) Team for a training session dedicated to learning the basics of the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS) on May 2, 2024 at 11:00 am. In this session the QA Team will describe what RAPIDS is, its benefits to program Sponsors, and do a walkthrough of RAPIDS and cover some of the most important requirements Sponsors need to know.
Register for the RAPIDS 101 session
Sponsor Office Hours
The SAA is pleased to offer RAP Sponsors in Colorado the opportunity to join regular office hours with Apprenticeship Colorado staff to ask questions, receive technical assistance, and learn more about how to enhance your RAP. Staff from all Apprenticeship Colorado teams will be in attendance to offer comprehensive support in managing your RAP. Drop-in office hours are held once a month on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 10 am to 11 am:
Join Sponsor Office Hours on Zoom
Apprenticeship Colorado Program Sponsor EEO Salon Sessions
This is a bi-monthly training series for Sponsors to learn more about their responsibilities related to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action.
Register for the next EEO Salon on April 23rd at 1PM MST
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Funding Opportunities
Apprenticeship Scholarship
Qualifying apprentices are eligible for a scholarship that can be used for tuition, fees, childcare, transportation, and other costs. Learn more about this opportunity and promote it to your apprentices!
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Highlight an Open Job Opportunity
Did you know that Apprenticeship Colorado can help you spread the word about your open apprenticeship job opportunities? We have several communication channels where we can spotlight your openings to partners that work with career seekers. Interested Sponsors can email Apprenticeship Colorado at apprenticeship@state.co.us to make a request.
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 Connect with EEO Partners to Recruit Talent
Apprenticeship Colorado helps connect RAP Sponsors with partners to help them achieve their diversity, equity inclusion and accessibility goals. EEO Partners include community-based organizations, workforce centers, vocational rehabilitation, and more. All EEO Partners have been trained by Apprenticeship Colorado and have opted into supporting Sponsors and employers with their outreach efforts and recruitment goals of RAPs across the state of Colorado. If you would like a warm introduction to our partners, email apprenticeship@state.co.us.
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Connect with Apprenticeship Colorado
Apprenticeship Colorado has a knowledgeable staff of experts in Registered Apprenticeship Program development, funding, and compliance to meet all of your Sponsor needs. Our staff is composed of three teams: the Quality Assurance Team, Program Development Team, and the Access Team.
The Quality Assurance Team
The QA Team is available to provide you with technical assistance to ensure that your program is not only compliant with the various state and federal laws, but that you also have the tools you need to deliver the highest quality program possible for your apprentices.
The Program Development Team
The PD Team can help you navigate any program development or expansion questions, such as how and when to add new occupations or employers to your existing program, and revise your Program Standards.
The Access Team
The Access Team provides complementary and optional services for RAP Sponsors so you can connect to talent, make your job opportunities more visible, and access resources for your programs and apprentices. See more information on their full Menu of Services.
Connect with our teams of specialists by emailing apprenticeship@state.co.us.
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Contact Us
Apprenticeship Colorado
Colorado Department of Labor & Employment
633 17th Street, Suite 201
Denver, CO 80202
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