Clark University is accepting applications for a federally funded initiative that provides up to $6,000 per apprentice to organizations helping workers enter information technology careers, part of a national effort to expand workforce training in high-demand industries.
The university’s Information Technology Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, known as TechXcel, is supported by a $27 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor. The program will provide performance-based payments to eligible Registered Apprenticeship sponsors as participants reach verified milestones in their training and employment.
The initiative is intended to help employers and workforce organizations recruit, train and retain apprentices while expanding access to technology careers without relying solely on traditional educational pathways.
“We’re excited to be able to begin offering incentive payments to sponsors interested in joining us in expanding access to information technology careers through Registered Apprenticeship,” Dug Jones, Clark’s program director for Workforce Programs, said in the university’s announcement.
Clark is one of five organizations nationwide selected to administer the Department of Labor’s Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program and the only academic institution among the recipients. The university’s $27 million award is part of nearly $162 million distributed through five federal cooperative agreements to expand Registered Apprenticeships in industries considered critical to the nation’s economic competitiveness.
Unlike traditional grants that provide funding primarily at the beginning of a project, the new program ties payments to measurable results. Eligible sponsors receive incentives as apprentices meet verified retention and progression benchmarks. The approach is designed to encourage organizations to support apprentices throughout their training rather than focusing solely on enrollment.
Clark’s award extends through June 30, 2030.
The latest funding builds on the university’s growing role in workforce development. Since 2019, Clark has received $54 million in Department of Labor awards to support workforce initiatives, working with national partners to expand federally recognized apprenticeship programs in Massachusetts, New England and across the country.
Registered Apprenticeships combine paid employment with structured training and instruction, allowing participants to develop occupational skills while earning wages. The programs offer employers a way to build a skilled workforce while providing workers with an alternative route into established careers.
The TechXcel initiative specifically targets information technology occupations, an area where employers continue to seek workers with specialized technical skills.
Clark and its national partners provide additional information about the program during a launch event Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the university’s Higgins University Center. The session, part of Talent Forward: Knowledge, Skills, and Partnerships for the Future of Work, will explain eligibility requirements, how performance-based payments are earned and the application process for apprenticeship sponsors. The event runs 2-4 p.m. in the Grace Conference Room on the first floor of the Higgins University Center, 950 Main St. It will also be livestreamed.
Organizations interested in participating can learn more through the TechXcel program website at techxcelclark.com or contact Clark’s Workforce Programs office at workforceprograms@clarku.edu or 508-798-4344.
