The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has applied for a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America program.
The proposal, supported by 26 marine organizations, is called Building Out Apprenticed Trades (BOAT) Jobs, MRAA said in a statement yesterday. MRAA would create multiple registered apprenticeship programs in coordination with industry partners and regional hubs.
Letters of support were included from leading engine manufacturers and the three largest dealership operations. Combined, they offer the potential to extend the apprenticeship program to every dealership location in the United States, according to MRAA.
“The BOAT Jobs development team, which included the entire staff at MRAA and other industry association leadership, was inspired by the incredible outpouring of support and desire for this workforce development effort,” said Wendy Mackie, director of workforce and foundation development at MRAA. “BOAT Jobs is truly a national, industrywide effort that will give us the ability to address, head-on, our ongoing workforce shortages and ensure there is a continuous pipeline of marine industry talent.”
The grant may provide MRAA with as much as $8 million over four years, the statement said.
