VWW Receives $398K Grant from US DOL Women’s Bureau
Vermont Works for Women (VWW) has been awarded $398,019 from the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau’s highly competitive Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant program. Over the next two years, VWW will expand their successful Trailblazers training program for women and gender-expansive individuals, create a new training program for careers in semiconductor manufacturing, provide gender equity training to employers to create more inclusive workplaces, and enhance services for current and future tradeswomen.
“Women are consistently underrepresented in most of our highest wage and in-demand career opportunities right here in Vermont,” says Rhoni Basden, Executive Director of Vermont Works for Women. “VWW has been working for decades to support women to find successful careers in fast-growing fields like carpentry, electrical, and renewable energy. With this WANTO grant, we will be able to do even more to help move the needle on gender equity in these fields and help more individuals enter our growing Vermont industries.”
As part of this grant, VWW will collaborate with the University of Vermont, GlobalFoundries, Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, and other partners to establish a new quick start pathway to the growing semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industries in Vermont. “We are excited to partner with Vermont Works for Women to increase women’s access to high demand careers in the semi-conductor industry and support the economic vibrancy and resiliency of Vermont,” says Maureen Hebert, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Employer Partnerships at UVM’s Office of Professional and Continuing Education.
“I’m so proud to see an incredible organization like Vermont Works for Women receive this grant to help them continue their important work supporting women in the trades across Vermont,” said Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). “These funds will contribute to expanding training programs, increasing wages, developing the workforce, and ensuring gender equity and inclusivity in the semiconductor industry and beyond. With programs like these, we can ensure Vermont is a desirable, equitable place to live and work for all women.”
VWW’s WANTO grant of $398,019 will cover approximately 52% of the total budgeted expenses for the funded projects; the remaining 48% ($365,000) will be funded by non-federal government sources.