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As youth apprenticeship programs continue to expand across the country, many are seeking new ways to ensure students—particularly those facing barriers to participation—can successfully persist and complete their apprenticeships. To support this work, the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its inaugural Innovation Grants.

Unlike traditional implementation grants, these awards provide flexible funding that enables partnerships to quickly pilot creative, locally driven solutions that address the unique needs of students and the community. Each $25,000 short-term grant will help programs test new ideas that improve program persistence and completion among students at the highest risk of disconnection.

The following partnerships received PAYA Innovation Grants:

• Berrien RESA (Berrien Springs, MI)
  • Berrien RESA’s Pathways to Apprenticeship Success pilot will test whether removing barriers by providing transportation aid, starter kits, emergency funds, and coaching can improve attendance, retention, completion, and belonging.
• Horizon Education Alliance (HEA) (Goshen, IN)
  • HEA will test whether leadership development training improves apprentices’ retention, workplace success, and sense of belonging.
• High School District 214 (Arlington Heights, IL)
  • High School District 214 will pilot apprenticeships for alternative school students at high-risk of disconnection through counselor-led coaching, paid work experiences, and dual-credit coursework.
• Idaho Business for Education (IBE) (Boise, ID)
  • IBE will launch a centralized Youth Apprenticeship Hub website that aggregates financial, academic, and regional support resources, as well as financial literacy tools. They will identify and track resources that drive engagement and persistence. 

Throughout the six-month grant period, PAYA will work with grantees to document their approaches, capture lessons learned, and identify promising practices. Following the conclusion of the grants, PAYA will publish resources and share findings to inform future work and benefit the broader youth apprenticeship field.