Dear Friends,
I had the honor of attending a graduation ceremony for exceptional young people who completed Harris County’s Apprenticeship Readiness Program. This program puts these individuals on a path to success, helping them develop interview skills and test-taking strategies as they consider various crafts and trades, such as construction, HVAC, and electrical work. By the end of the program, they are confident in their abilities and direction. This leads to higher retention rates as they embark on 3- to 5-year apprenticeships.
The Apprenticeship Readiness Program is just one example of our commitment to a Harris County where everyone has a roof over their heads, good-paying jobs, and other necessities to fulfill the American dream. This happens through strategic investment in a set of programs – like the pre-apprenticeship – that build lasting prosperity.
The Apprenticeship Readiness Program is just one example of our commitment to a Harris County where everyone has a roof over their heads, good-paying jobs, and other necessities to fulfill the American dream. This happens through strategic investment in a set of programs – like the pre-apprenticeship – that build lasting prosperity.
We are making comprehensive investments through Harris PROSPERS (Pathways to Realize Opportunity, Security, Potential, Equity, Resilience, and Safety), a plan and a promise to make Harris County a place where everyone has a stable foundation and a clear path. Initiatives under Harris PROSPERS bridge the economic divide by leading the fight for good-paying jobs and worker safety; building career pipelines through job training and apprenticeship programs; and leveling the playing field with fair and inclusive local economic policies.
To truly appreciate the impact the pre-apprenticeship program is already having, consider the words of graduate Alicia Gonzalez-Leon:
“Knowing that there are people out there who are proud of what they do and willing to help each other enter the workforce is amazing. Every single one of them very passionately expressed to us, this is what this job is, literally everything – little-by-little details. Sometimes it takes some patience to get into those programs... but it doesn't matter. Like the commissioner [Ellis] was saying, it's a matter of endurance. If you really want it, you're going to do it. You're going to keep growing and eventually get to this point where you get the privilege of teaching and inspiring the next generation, our sisters, our brothers, our children, to do the same thing.”
I have no doubt Alicia and her peers will exceed expectations in their chosen craft and become a part of a rewarding industry.
The apprenticeship program is one of several workforce development programs funded by the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan, which allocated almost $1 billion to Harris County. We’ve used this historic amount of funds to address both immediate and systemic issues, investing in financial assistance for families; major infrastructure improvements to expand affordable housing, ensure sanitary drinking water, and make neighborhoods safer; and programs to expand access to good jobs, quality childcare and much-needed healthcare with impacts that extend for years to come.
I’m proud of how we’ve invested these funds, and I’m even prouder of the newest additions to the thriving industries that will build our future.
Sincerely,
Rodney Ellis