Arizona Western receives grant from BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Arizona Western College is set to play a significant role in addressing Arizona’s growing construction workforce needs after receiving grant funding through a statewide apprenticeship initiative.

Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity announced that the BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative has awarded a total of $3 million to 10 programs across the state. Arizona Western College is the only academic institution among the recipients to receive a portion of the funding.

The grant is aimed at helping meet the demand for more than 20,000 construction jobs projected to be needed in Arizona by 2030. Officials say the funding will allow the college to expand and strengthen its existing apprenticeship programs, particularly in high-demand technical fields.

Miguel Rios, Director of Apprenticeship Programs at Arizona Western College, said the grant will support the growth of specialized training opportunities.

“It’s one area that I’m very passionate about myself that we'll be able to expand the current electrical apprenticeship program, and the fiber optics technician,” Rios said.

The funding will be used to improve apprenticeship programs in several ways, including expanding partnerships with employers and increasing access for students. Rios explained that bringing additional employers into the program is a key benefit of the grant.

“One of the benefits from the grant is being able to bring more employers into the apprenticeship program,” he said. “So open up more opportunities for apprentices, and then we’ll also do some wrap around services for the apprentice themselves, like provide tools, maybe some equipment, laptops, and then also build up the curriculum.”

Arizona Western College’s construction apprenticeship programs will be based at the institution’s Wellton campus.