SPANISH FORK -- Ron Matteucci knows what it's like to operate on a shoestring.
The state director of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training under the federal Department of Labor has revitalized an apprenticeship program that was once state operated. But when the Legislature dropped funding for the Utah Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Matteucci picked it up. Despite the lack of money or even a budget, the committee has lofty goals to encourage apprenticeship programs that result in better prepared employees statewide.Organized chiefly with volunteers from industry, education and state agencies, the group meets quarterly at member businesses or educational facilities to work out its objectives. Thursday, the group met at Klune Industries, a Spanish Fork manufacturing plant of military parts. The committee briefly discussed incorporating as a non-profit organization so it could pursue grants but left that discussion for a later meeting without reaching a decision.
Communication is the No. 1 element in getting the committee organized and in achieving success, Matteucci said. And because money is tight, or nonexistent, much of the communication done outside of meetings is by telephone conference calls and faxes.
Five regional committees have been established, and 10 apprenticeship sponsors are now located around the state. But because it can't afford to hire media experts, the group is looking at a variety of ways to get its message out. One idea bantered about Thursday was to give achieving apprentices awards and reap the publicity for the individual and the steering committee.
Another more ambitious suggestion would be to lobby Gov. Mike Leavitt for recognition then bask in the media fallout.
Stephen Lewis of Klune Industries said he visited several Utah County high schools and manufacturing facilities to build support for apprenticeship training only to find that many of the people he visited "didn't know we even existed. They do now."
Among the committee's tasks is to explore available services and work together to make them available to potential apprentices.
Short term training grants for veterans, for example, are available through the Department of Labor, said Dale Brockbank of the Veterans Services division.
A $340,000 grant issued in July still has $240,000 left, he said. Other veterans programs include a class at Hill Air Force Base that teaches military personnel how to become employed when re-entering civilian life.
The class teaches concepts from writing a resume to job interviews, Brockbank said.
Salt Lake Community College and Utah Valley State College also provide apprentice programs. Additionally, they offer writing and speaking skills that improve job opportunities and can be applied to four-year degrees, Tom Lewis of the Utah Training Director Association said.
UVSC offers a technical management program and is the only college in Utah that accepts all credits toward a four-year degree from its apprenticeship programs, said Joel Bradford, representing the Orem college.