Schools
Worcester College Gets $27M Federal Grant For IT Apprenticeships
Clark University was granted $27 million in federal funding to expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities.
WORCESTER, MA — A college in Worcester was granted $27 million in federal funding to expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in information technology.
Clark University's funding from the U.S. Department of Labor will support Clark’s TechImpact project from July 1 through June 30, 2030. The money will help expand access to paid apprenticeship pathways for people seeking careers in IT and related fields.
The project is part of nearly $162 million in funding awarded through five cooperative agreements to expand apprenticeships in fields tied to the Trump Administration’s reindustrialization agenda, according to the Department of Labor.
Clark is one of five awardees nationwide and the only academic institution to receive a Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program cooperative agreement. The other awardees are the Florida Department of Commerce, Wireless Infrastructure Association, ASE Education Foundation and Jobs for the Future.
“We are proud and honored to be part of this extraordinary collaborative effort that connects people with opportunities to build rewarding and sustainable careers,” Clark University President David Fithian said. “The ability to help deliver meaningful apprenticeships is consistent with Clark’s mission of providing avenues for experiential learning with tangible human impact.”
The Department of Labor said the performance-based model ties federal funding to measurable outcomes, with incentive payments going to Registered Apprenticeship sponsors as apprentices reach verified retention and progression milestones. At least 85% of each award will flow directly to eligible apprenticeship sponsors across states and territories, according to the department.
Clark will continue working with Public Consulting Group and a national consortium of workforce development boards, higher education institutions and industry professionals. Local partners include Quinsigamond Community College and MassHire.
The grant marks the fourth time in eight years Clark has received Department of Labor funding for workforce development in technical and emerging industries. The combined funding over that period totals $54 million.
School officials said Clark plans to use the latest funding to increase employer and sponsor participation in IT-focused apprenticeships, support more than 3,800 new apprentices and help expand Registered Apprenticeship programs nationally in the IT sector.
