AMIkids Inc., a national nonprofit organization that has been transforming troubled youth into responsible members of the community for more than 50 years, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $5 Million U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grant to support workforce development activities within their Out-of-School Time (OST) programs across 11 counties in Florida. AMIkids is one of only four organizations chosen for this $20 million nationwide US DOL initiative.
Over a three-year period, AMIkids will implement workforce development programming that will expand job training and workforce pathways for youth and disconnected youth including soft skill development, career exploration, job readiness and certification, summer jobs, year-round job opportunities, and apprenticeships.
As a Registered Youth Pre-Apprenticeship program by the State of Florida Apprenticeship Office, AMIkids will provide services to 420 youth aged 14-21 per year for years 1 and 2 of the grant, with an additional 100 youth for expansion sites in year 3, for a total of 1,360 youth over the grant. For years 1 and 2, the program will be hosted in the following counties: Alachua, Broward, Duval, Gadsden, Hillsborough, Okaloosa, Leon, Miami-Dade, Orange and Volusia.
“We are committed to help the thousands of at-risk youth we serve across Florida to prepare for and find gainful employment,” says Michael Thornton, President & CEO, AMIkids Inc. “This grant will allow us to expand these services, and along with our partners, ensure youth find a brighter future while strengthening their communities.”
As part of the grant requirement, AMIkids Inc. has partnered with several industry employers, apprenticeship programs, workforce development boards, and educational institutions to create pathways for youth into RAPs, including: